FURIOUS councillors have accused Wagga City Council of withholding a second auditor’s report that reviews an internal report strongly advising them against lending Douglas Aerospace $2.5 million in 2012.
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Councillors maintain staff have been privy to an external auditor’s report – reportedly costing ratepayers $25,000 – for several weeks, while the elected body will have just two hours to review the hard copy next week.
“It’s just complete lack of transparency,” Cr Andrew Negline said.
“It should be out in the open. It’s been a bitter pill to swallow.”
An outraged Yvonne Braid, who earlier this month demanded both reports be released to the public, questioned whether councilors would glimpse the same draft report as staff or whether changes could have been made without their knowledge.
“I think it’s absolutely disgusting because we’re there for the community of whose money has been spent on it,” Cr Braid said.
“With two hours, you can’t really do much. We should have been given the draft report at the same time as staff. It is not on.”
Cr Paul Funnell, who formed the Douglas Aerospace Review Committee out of fears due diligence was not taken, believes “heads should roll over this”.
“It really upsets me we get such a minuscule opportunity to read such a serious document,” Cr Funnell said.
“It’s not transparent.”
Cr Garry Hiscock said councillors were receiving reports too late, yet were in the public firing line.
“Councillors need to be informed about things well in advance,” he said.
“I think with Douglas Aerospace, this has been the problem and councillors are the ones exposed to public scrutiny. Some of us feel we’re locked out (from) information that’s very, very crucial.”
Mayor Rod Kendall could not weigh in on the issue at this stage.
“This matter and report is confidential and no comment should be made by the mayor, councillors or WWCC staff until the council has passed a resolution to do so,” Cr Kendall said.