RoPP and cash for access prompted a scathing story in today’s The Age after it was revealed that six of nine Port Phillip councillors had written to IBAC, Chief Municipal Inspector and Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne expressing grave concerns.
TWiSK has also seen the letter and can report on some of the concerns that The Age did not.
Cash for access is key concern
The councillor letter says in part:
“We are especially concerned this paid access of up to $2000 has been sought by a community group with just 5 members, two of whom appear to be a current councillor and her husband”.
Questions first raised in TWiSK
Concerns about the RoPP cash for comment were raised in TWiSK on 5 May when the fundraising scheme was made public.
At that time we included an unedited response from RoPP President Campbell Spence:
“Your comment about “cash for access” is misleading because ROPP listens to ALL of our constituents – we will be holding public meetings specifically to hear feedback from residents in relation to their expectations of councillors!
“Big donors will be invited to our committee meetings, but they have no more influence over the committee than any other resident!“
Letter signed by six councillors
There are nine councillors in all, the six signatories were Mayor Cunsolo, Deputy Mayor Crawford, Cr Bond, Cr Martin, Cr Nyaguy and Cr Baxter. (Corrected 3 July)
The three remaining councillors are RoPP’s Cr Clarke and Cr Sikaroff, plus former Mayor Cr Marcus Pearl.
Cr Pearl has remained tight-lipped about why he did not sign the letter despite conceding that he had a role in writing it.
Who are RoPP? And where does the money come from?
Originally the Ratepayers of Port Phillip, before rebranding to Residents of Port Phillip, RoPP are very proud of their success in the 2020 Council elections. Their “RoPP councillors” Cr Rhonda Clarke and Christina Sirakoff are strident advocates of cost cutting and reducing the burden of rates on the community.
RoPP donated over $38,000 to three candidates in the 2020 elections, namely Rhonda Clark, Christina Sikaroff and the unsuccessful Sami Maher. See CoPP election donation report
RoPP’s declaration to Consumer Affairs indicates that RoPP has a small membership, possibly as low as five.
Visit the RoPP website to read about their fundraising and achievements
