PETER Hulin believes the 5-2 voting rift in Warrnambool City Council is easily fixed — bring in live recording and appoint a leader who can resolve conflict.
His four years on council have been dotted with feisty debates and two inquiries into his breaches of confidentiality, but he is adamant his intentions were honourable.
“I’m confident my actions will one day be vindicated,” he told The Standard yesterday during an interview on his campaign to win another term on council.
“It was a tragedy I was forced to take those decisions to breach confidentiality, but I needed to be true to my integrity.”
He also defended his decision to boycott after-council suppers with five other councillors.
“I would describe myself as easy to get along with, but I hate being lied to,” he said.
“Give me the truth and judge me on the whole story, not just innuendos.
“That’s why I want all open council meetings to be recorded and streamed live on the internet — so people can see what goes on in debates and voters can know who they are voting for.
“It’s not that I disagree with issues, but it’s the lack of credible debate that I hate.
“I can’t wait to be in a council that works together without egos or the need to be in the paper every day.”
He accused other incumbent councillors running for re-election of touting ideas that he and Cr Jennifer Lowe had earlier proposed, but had been rejected.
Cr Hulin listed council accountability to the community as a key issue.
He called for local experts in various fields to be sought out rather than engaging expensive outside consultants.
“It’s our city and we should be shaping it together,” he said.
He wants all south-west councils to unite in regular forums and lobby governments to fund for vital services with Warrnambool as the main focus.
He cited upgrades to roads, rail and airport plus a cancer-care centre, better links to the Great Ocean Road, improvements to Flagstaff Hill and Lake Pertobe as projects which could be achieved with a better united regional approach.
pcollins@standard.fairfax.com.au
