Office Of Local Government Has Questions

THE Office of Local Government today confirmed they have questions for the Upper Hunter Shire Council relating to a legal breach in which Council used externally restricted funds as cash flow, without permission from the Minister for Local Government.

The OLG confirmed, “the Office of Local Government is aware of this matter and has requested that the council provide further information about its decision and approval process for the expenditure.”

The Council has stated the Auditor General had provided them with a “clean” audit opinion, however it was after the auditor had identified and properly reported the legal breach.

The incident has been described as “inadvertent”, yet Council have continued to justify the misuse of funds in terms of their cash flow stating that it was because of a 35 day delay in receiving loan funds that the Auditor General had to report them.

Related stories:

• Council Broke Law With $380,000 Misappropriation – December 18, 2019.
• Letter: No Confidence in Council Compliance – December 18, 2019.
• Editorial: Council’s Arrogance Breathtaking – December 19, 2019.