MAYOR Janet Halsall has defended her decision to skip Casey's last council meeting and attend an interstate conference less than a fortnight before the elections next month. She insists it is vital for residents' needs to be heard at the federal level.
In an email to Federal Local Government Minister Anthony Albanese , Cr Halsall complained that fellow councillors Kevin Bradford and Michael Farley had "vindictively" slapped a rescission motion on the trip.
The motion means no action can be taken until the issue of whether Cr Halsall should attend the inaugural Australian Council of Local Government meeting in Canberra on November 18 is further debated and voted upon at the next council meeting.
Cr Halsall complained the pair's action was a Labor Party attack and "part of an ongoing vitriolic campaign against myself and another councillor since we refused to fall in with their plans regarding the removal of the council's CEO in August 2007".
In the email, copied to Premier John Brumby, local federal MPs and the media, Cr Halsall said it was vital for her to attend because key issues for Casey including urban planning and congestion were on the agenda.
Cr Bradford said he was concerned Cr Halsall "is getting so personal and is so determined on bringing politics into this council".
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