Dubbo Mayor Quits

 

Dubbo Regional Council Mayor, BEN SHIELDS has quit after months of turmoil in the top job.


A group of six rival Councillors, led by deputy mayor Stephen Lawrence, first circulated a letter on March 31 calling for him to stand down, amid allegations of bullying and abuse of power, and those Councillors also calling on an independent investigation to be carried out into Dubbo Regional Council.

In a statement issued yesterday, Cr Shields says that a new policy made while he was recently in hospital made it impossible for anyone to carry out the duties as mayor with such hard restrictions being in place.


He says that he has tendered his resignation as Mayor of the Dubbo Region effective midday this Thursday.

The statement says that the last three months has been a particularly trying time in his life, and believes that the allegations that have been made against him are baseless, and that records show that not a single complaint had been lodged from any staff member – past and present.

In the past 2 weeks, both Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders and Deputy Premier John Barilaro called for Mr Shields to step aside amid allegations of improper conduct.

The ABC reported late last month allegations made by two former employees of Dubbo Regional Council — a former lifeguard at Dubbo Aquatic Centre, and a former water billing officer.

 

(Pic:Twitter)