OUTSPOKEN Liberal MP Bernie Finn last week launched a tirade against western suburbs lobby group LeadWest.
Speaking in State Parliament, the Western Metropolitan upper house member effectively accused the organisation of being a front for the Labor Party. Mr Finn even called on Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell to conduct an inquiry into the funding it receives from councils across the west.
Founded in 2007, LeadWest states its objective is to “foster and undertake actions that will support sustainable growth and regional development of Melbourne’s west”. Members include Wyndham, Brimbank, Melton, Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley councils, Western Health and Victoria University.
Many similar advocacy groups operate across the state, including the Committee for Melbourne, G21 Geelong Region Alliance and our own Committee for Wyndham.
Each passionately advocates on behalf of their communities, pressuring governments to listen to the needs of those they represent.
Mr Finn also questioned if LeadWest was “value for money”, claiming it was simply replicating economic, tourism and business promotion work of councils. He went on to claim LeadWest was the only group in the west to defend the federal government’s carbon tax.
On its website, LeadWest states it has an independent chairman, Barry Harvey, five directors representing councils, and four directors elected by its members. Founding chairman Ralph Willis was a federal Labor MP and minister in the Hawke and Keating governments.
While it’s not the first time Mr Finn has made headlines for making outrageous statements, this time he’s gone too far. Rather than attempting to discredit LeadWest, he would be better served holding those in his own party to account to ensure they deliver for the people he represents — the people of the west.
