Glamorgan Spring Bay deputy mayor Michael Symons has been suspended for a week after failing to declare a conflict of interest when he joined an advisory committee for a major council contractor.
A code of conduct panel found Symons breached several sections of the Local Government Code of Conduct by taking up a position with Cohealth’s Community Advisory Group without telling council.
Cohealth is contracted by the east coast council for about $500,000 a year to manage medical services in Bicheno and Triabunna.
The complaint was lodged by councillor Carole McQueeney in September 2024.
She alleged Symons failed to declare his non-pecuniary interest during a closed meeting on medical services funding the previous month.
The panel noted Symons had been warned by the former general manager just before the August 27 meeting that he “had a conflict of interest in the item”.
Despite that advice, Symons “chose to ignore” the warning.
He told the hearing he applied for the advisory role as a private individual and had never been paid for it.
Symons said it had not occurred to him to inform the mayor or general manager.
“Cr Symons … told the hearing that he now considered it was ‘remiss’ of him, but that it had not occurred to him that he should have done so,” the panel noted.
The panel ruled the conflict still existed because the advisory group’s role included lobbying for funding from stakeholders such as council.
The suspension took effect on September 24, the day after the council meeting where the decision was tabled.
Symons must also complete mandatory training and has been formally reprimanded.
The ruling comes two months after mayor Cheryl Arnol was suspended over separate issues.
