By ANDY WILSON

Strathbogie Shire Council was able to ‘sign off’ from parliamentary scrutiny over a Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) report from six years ago that made 11 recommendations to council to it help reign in inadequate practices with regard to spending.

The state government’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee convened on Monday 28 July to question four councils – including Strathbogie Shire – over the 2019 report.

Although the report cleared council of fraud and corruption at the time, it questioned certain instances of spending which involved councilors and/or staff, such as insufficient documentation for reimbursements and lack of scrutiny of food and alcohol purchases.

Strathbogie Deputy Mayor Scott Jeffery and CEO Rachelle Quattrocchi attended the committee meeting via online.

Ms Quattrocchi said there had been significant transformation at the shire since the 2019 audit, a period that had seen the appointment of two new councils since and oversight by municipal monitors, a strengthened Audit and Risk Committee, and changes in leadership.

“In response to the VAGO audit, Strathbogie Shire has implemented key policies, procedures, and internal controls to minimise the risk of fraud and corruption," Ms Quattrocchi said.

"There is now a strong culture of continuous improvement across the organisation."

Actions taken by council following VAGO’s recommendations include:

· Comprehensive policy and procedure reviews

· Enhanced oversight by the Audit and Risk Committee

· Strengthened procurement processes, including mandatory purchase orders and multi-level approval

· Improved fraud detection measures, such as alerts on fuel card use

· Increased reporting to the community through Annual Reports

· Independent recruitment support to enhance diversity and skills

· Overhaul of the Community Grants Program, removing councilor involvement in awarding grants and introducing a rigorous assessment and acquittal framework

“We are committed to becoming an employer of choice and a high-performing organisation that attracts and retains staff who are values-driven and committed to integrity,” Ms Quattrocchi said.

Deputy Mayor Scott Jeffery was appointed in November, 2025 along with the election of all other councilors and said council was committed to sector-wide collaboration and resource sharing.

“Strathbogie Shire has a good working relationship with integrity agencies such as IBAC, Local Government Inspectorate, including partnerships with professional services firms and active participation in local government forums”, Cr Jeffery said.

“Council (also) has a newly elected group of councilors, a new permanent CEO, and an experienced executive team in place to lead with integrity and promote good governance, transparency, and community trust.”

In a statement, council said it continued to prioritise training and education for both staff and councilors, including mandatory fraud and probity training, monthly updates from oversight bodies, and formal induction processes.

Cr Jeffery told the committee on Monday that both he and Mayor Claire Ewart-Kennedy had completed in person mayoral training with all necessary paperwork as mandated by the 2019 recommendations.

All other councilors elected in November 2024 had completed the training required by the Local Government (Governance and Integrity) Regulations Act 2020, including presentations by IBAC and the Local Government Inspectorate earlier this year.

Cr Jeffery also spoke of the unique challenges faced by small rural councils such as Strathbogie, particularly limited resources and workforce attraction in dispersed communities.

“While our size presents challenges, it also gives us a high level of visibility and oversight of operations, which supports strong fraud and corruption controls," he said.

"Our commitment to transparency and sound governance remains unwavering."

While Strathbogie Shire was not part of VAGO’s 2022 Fraud and Control Over Local Government Grants audit, council had voluntarily adopted best-practice models to increase community confidence and accountability in grant-making.

“Our community deserves a council that acts with integrity and delivers value," Cr Jeffery said.

"These reforms ensure we’re building a council that is responsive, transparent, and fit for the future.”

For more information, visit: www.strathbogie.vic.gov.au