MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillor Desi O’Connor wants to make it clear that her decision to suspend campaigning for last month’s federal election was due to questions over her employment as a teacher by the Victorian education department and not retaining her role as a councillor.
“Just a clarification that I did not suspend my campaign because I was still holding an elected position as a Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor,” she said.
“The suspension occurred because I discovered that being a public school teacher constituted holding “… any office of profit under the crown…” – Section 44 (iv). Therefore, there was a question around whether I was “incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a senator or a member of the House of Representatives” – Section 44.
“At the time I was on unpaid leave and receiving no benefits (such as super, LSL) and had been on leave for well over 12 months from the Department of Education.
“I took stock for around 48 hours with my team to determine the path we would take. After seeking advice, I resigned the teaching position on the 5 May 2022, and it was accepted by my workplace that very day.
“Holding an elected position in local government was not in breach of the constitution. Just prior to the election, I was informed, after seeking information, that under the legislation (Local Government Act 2020), a councillor’s allowance is payable during a leave of absence. I did not claim any expenses during that time. The councillor allowance, paid to me through that period, has been donated (“O’Connor to donate council election ‘pay’” The News 21/6/22).
“The title may have been better as: O’Connor to donate council allowance.”
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 28 June 2022
