More Councillors stood down as private individual disrupts democracy
- Jul 15
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 16
Published on 13 July 2026
“Council can confirm that Councillors Shirley Cornish, Lesley Hewitt and Pat Hockey have today been served with criminal charges, initiated by the same private individual who served other Councillors and our Chief Executive Officer earlier this year.
The matters are proceeding as private prosecutions and, like the previous charges, have not involved any investigation, fact finding process, or assessment by Victoria Police or any public prosecutorial authority.
Council is limited in what it can say publicly about these charges since they are before the courts. Council can say that it is bitterly disappointed with the impact that this individual’s actions are having on our community and its right to be represented by its democratically elected representatives.”
You can read the full statement at:
It is extremely important to note that Council’s day-to-day operations, like bin collection, library operation and road maintenance, will continue unaffected.
For more information see www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Home
ABC News Coverage www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-14/hepburn-shire-council-charges-laid-by-david-penman/106912074
Commentary by The Wombat Post here
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