Hume City councillors are still waiting for a response from Nick Staikos, Minister for Local Government, after raising concerns about an alleged unauthorised recording of a closed council meeting.
In a letter dated 24 December 2024, council told the Minister that a recording from a confidential council briefing – held during the lead-up to the November 2025 local government elections – had surfaced on social media. The audio is alleged to have been shared by a third-party account with no affiliation to any meeting attendees.
Council described the incident as “deeply concerning”, alleging the recording was made without the consent or knowledge of councillors or council officers. In its correspondence, council stressed that such a breach “undermines the trust, confidentiality, and integrity expected of council operations”.
The letter outlines four key actions taken by council:
- Informing the Minister and relevant integrity bodies about the breach
- Referring the matter to Victoria Police for investigation as a potential case of illegal surveillance
- Seeking advice on measures to prevent similar incidents in future
- Requesting clarity on how councillors and council staff can be better protected from breaches of this nature
The council called on Minister Staikos, who holds responsibility for overseeing the standards of councillor behaviour and governance, to provide guidance and support. No response has been received.
The allegation was referred to Victorian Police in March 2025, although the police media office was unable to provide any details when Sunbury Life made enquiries on 29 March. More here.
