Martin Gill, the CEO of Victoria's smallest council, the Borough of Queenscliffe, has been issued a formal warning by the Local Government Inspectorate for a likely breach of the Local Government Act. The warning follows an investigation into his handling of a councillor's Notice of Motion concerning his own performance appraisal in March last year.
The Inspectorate found that Mr Gill likely breached the Act by engaging in email communication with councillors about the motion. However, it decided against prosecution, citing the public interest was not best served by legal action. Inspector Aida Rezjovic noted that Mr Gill's cooperation and proactive measures upon recognizing the conflict were considered.
Mr Gill accepted the Inspectorate's conclusion, stating he made a mistake in providing initial advice on the motion before recognizing the potential conflict. The Borough of Queenscliffe said it would take no further action, respecting the Inspectorate's determination.
This formal warning comes after a separate investigation in January revealed allegations that Mr Gill threatened to “take apart” a councillor. Former councillor Michael Grout claimed Mr Gill made verbal threats in late 2024, describing the workplace culture as “toxic.” Mr Grout decided not to recontest the election due to these concerns.
The Borough of Queenscliffe, Australia's last remaining borough, is the smallest local government area in Victoria, covering 8.6 square kilometers with a population of 3,238.
