An alleged $5 million offer to secure the mayoral role has sparked a Local Government Inspectorate complaint investigation of Bass Coast Shire councillor Les Larke.

The allegations are detailed in the Saturday Age, which states the “Maserati-driving multimillionaire” is accused of making the offer during a meeting in Wonthaggi in 2018.

Cr Larke has refuted the allegations.

The Age obtained emails from three councillors – then-mayor Pam Rothfield, then deputy mayor Brett Tessari and Geoff Ellis – who allege Cr Larke initially offered to give $1 million of his own money to be spent in each Bass Coast council ward, in return for securing the mayoral role.

According to the emails, when the three councillors then asked if Cr Larke was serious he increased the proposal to $5 million across three wards.

The Age states within minutes of the October 31 meeting 2018, Cr Rothfield lodged a formal complaint with then CEO Paul Buckley.

Cr Rothfield’s complaint of the quid pro quo deal was supported by emails on the same day from Crs Ellis and Tessari.

“Cr Larke indicated payment to all three wards in return for him winning the upcoming mayor vote,” wrote Cr Tessari, who went on to become mayor.

“The option to clarify the comment as a joke was given and I asked Cr Larke if it was tongue in cheek twice, which he indicated ‘no it wasn’t’.”

Shire CEO Ali Wastie on Friday confirmed the formal, “ongoing” investigation.

“Council is unable to comment on the specifics of the matter in order to afford fairness to the individual,” she said.

“The matter solely relates to one councillor and does not involve the organisation nor the broader councillor group in any way.

“Section 57 of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011 compels the heads of organisations to notify IBAC when there is reasonable grounds to suspect corruption is occurring or has occurred in the workplace.”

Local Government Inspectorate’s Dr John Lynch on Friday confirmed they were investigating a complaint relating to the shire.

“The Inspectorate does not provide comment on investigations that are yet to be finalised,” Dr Lynch said, adding he had no further comment.

Larke response

Cr Larke – who is re-contesting his Bunurong seat at the October council elections - this morning again spoke to the Advertiser saying he was yet to read The Age article and was bound by confidentiality.

“I don’t want to hide behind that but there are significant penalties for breaking confidentiality regarding Local Government Inspectorate matters,” Cr Larke said, adding whoever leaked the story to the press should be made “accountable”.

“The assertions are ridiculous and all I can say is I believe it is the timing of it that is interesting, around the election.

“I can’t go into detail but I refute entirely the allegations that have been made and the reporting is one-sided.”

He said while he couldn’t “elaborate”, the details in the incident did not happen “in the way that has been reported”.

Cr Larke said he would continue to stand for re-election.

“Clearly the timing of this will probably jettison my chances or compromise my chances.

“But I always have had strong support from the community. I hope the community will see what I’ve stood for, how important I regard governance and they will set aside the allegations and recognise that there’s a strong possibility, more than a strong possibility, the allegations will be dismissed.”

Cr Larke said he drove a Toyota Corolla but when asked if he owned a Maserati and it was correct to describe him as a multi-millionaire, he wouldn’t confirm or deny.

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