Cash for access: Councillors ask corruption watchdog to investigate scheme

Six Port Phillip councillors have asked Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog to investigate a “gold and platinum” scheme that sells access to a community group that donates money to two other sitting councillors.

RoPP is an incorporated association that is registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria and has endorsed two Port Phillip councillors – Rhonda Clark and Christina Sirakoff. The group raises money and provides financial support to help the councillors run theirIn public disclosures to the council, Sirakoff is listed as an RoPP committee member. Her husband, Campbell Spence, is listed as a committee member and the group’s president.

“We are concerned that the offering of these products to the community by RoPP … could create a conflict of interest for the RoPP councillors, which should be disclosed to council as required by the Local Government Act,” wrote the six, which includes the mayor and deputy mayor. The platinum supporter product – priced at $2000 – provides access to any RoPP executive meeting to present on any topic.

He said no RoPP-endorsed candidates were members of the “executive committee” and residents had access to both Clark and Sirakoff for free at any time through community meetings and other opportunities. In the 2020 local government election, the RoPP group contributed $8251 in campaign donations to Sirakoff, $14,251 to Clark and $15,751 to another candidate who was not elected.

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