http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/story/317625/darebin-deputy-mayor-diana-asmar-resigns/?cs=1219
The imminent release of the Ombudsman's report means nuclear fallout for Labor in Northern suburbs - so Crikey predicts.
http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/09/12/victorian-labor-nervous-over-expected-darebin-fallout/
Andrew Crook writes: A senior Labor source told Crikey this morning that major players were cowering in their bunkers waiting for the report, expected to be tabled imminently in the Victorian Parliament, leading to front-page coverage in The Age and wall-to-wall discussion from outraged morning talkback hosts.
"The Darebin report will have significant ramifications because existing and past Labor councillors will be named as not exactly doing the right thing," the source explained.
The impact would be "far greater" than just a few planning decisions within Darebin (in Melbourne's northern suburbs) and the adjacent Moreland and would take in the "Lebanese entity" within the broader ALP. The Ombudsman is expected to scrutinise council support of "community groups" that are then used as forums to recruit new members -- as well as allegations of conflicts of interest over planning and development decisions.
