The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council spent around $60,000 to secure a seat at the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council — yet no one turned up to sit in it.
The no-show has left many residents questioning how a council can spend that much money for a voice at the state table, only to stay silent. The timing couldn’t have been worse. Just two days earlier, the independent McCrae landslide enquiry was released, sending the Shire into a scramble of damage control.
That might explain the distraction — but it doesn’t excuse it. Ratepayers expect representation, especially when their money’s already paid for the privilege.
Missed Chance to Be Heard
The MAV State Council isn’t just another meeting. It’s where councils from across Victoria debate motions, vote on policies and shape the future of local government. It also offers valuable networking opportunities, helping councils work together on shared issues.
Neighbouring Frankston City Council made the most of its spot — successfully passing five out of six motions, tackling housing reform, transparency and workforce issues. The Mornington Peninsula, meanwhile, left its seat empty and its motions unheard.
For a council that’s been pushing its own advocacy agenda, not showing up to the one event that actually decides statewide priorities feels like a missed chance — and a costly one.
Political Games Closer to Home
Just weeks earlier, the Shire voted to call on the MAV to cap councillor terms at 12 years — a move many saw as a pointed jab at long-serving councillor David Gill, who stormed out of the chamber after being shut down in debate.
That very motion could have been presented at the MAV meeting. Instead, it stayed in the folder, unspoken and unrepresented.
The episode reflects a bigger problem: when politics takes priority over good governance, the community loses its voice.
A Council Turning Inward
Lately, the Shire has started to look more like a closed shop than a community focused council. Relations with neighbouring councils have soured, with collaboration replaced by defensiveness and political sparring.
The council’s recent record includes limited community consultation, budget changes that cut key services, regular protests outside the council chambers, and a surprise $5 million staffing cut forcing an internal restructure. Add in an increasingly aggressive stance toward critics, and it’s easy to see why public trust is fading.
Mayor Anthony Marsh, who has previously been compared to Donald Trump for his combative leadership style, is now being likened by some to Kim Jong Un — a tongue-in-cheek comparison, but one that captures just how far public confidence has fallen.
Does this mean the Shire has become “the North Korea of local government” — marked by hostility toward neighbouring partners, heavy-handed tactics toward opponents, and a tendency to isolate itself from strategic allies?
Skipping the MAV State Council meeting only adds to that perception. Instead of engaging with the state’s biggest local-government forum, the Shire sat it out — missing another opportunity to build bridges and strengthen partnerships.
While Frankston City Council left with a list of wins, the Mornington Peninsula’s seat sat empty — a perfect metaphor for a council slowly isolating itself.
The $60,000 Question
When councils spend public money on advocacy, communities expect results — not silence.
In this case, $60,000 bought an empty seat.
For a municipality still dealing with the McCrae landslide fallout, budget cuts and growing public frustration, that’s a tough figure to justify.
So, as locals look at the numbers, one question lingers:
How would you spend $60,000? On an empty chair — or on something that actually benefits the community?
That money could have been used for subsidised pet desexing/microchipping for dogs and cats at our animal shelter, food for the homeless, food and vet care for pets in need etc.