23/12/2025
State Government steps in to investigate the goings on of our Councilors.
Victoria's Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Nick Staikos MP, has appointed two municipal monitors to the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.
Prue Digby and Rebecca McKenzie will observe governance processes and report back on issues.
They will provide advice to the Council on addressing any identified governance issues.This action is taken in response to ongoing concerns about governance and councillor conduct within the Shire. The monitors' role will be to:
Make recommendations to the Minister for any further necessary action, which can include the dismissal of the council if issues are not resolved.
The appointment is part of a broader state government effort to improve council accountability and governance across Victoria through reforms to the Local Government Act 2020.
About Prue Digby
Prue Digby is an experienced chair, non-executive director and senior executive, with expertise in providing community and public-related services to Melbourne and regional Victoria in the state, local government and non-government sectors. Formerly a member of the Birrarung Council, Prue is currently a Member of the Victoria University Council, trustee of the Ross Trust and has recently completed her role as Chair of the Commission of Inquiry into Whittlesea Council.
About Rebecca McKenzie
Rebecca is a prominent public sector leader in Australia, particularly recognised for her extensive experience in local government governance and executive management.
Executive Leadership Roles
CEO, Glen Eira City Council (2016–2025): Led the organisation through three council terms, achieving high levels of staff engagement and community satisfaction. She oversaw significant transformations in organizational culture and financial sustainability.
CEO, Mitchell Shire Council: Prior to Glen Eira, she served as CEO where she managed diverse regional challenges.
CEO, Central Goldfields Shire Council & Buloke Shire Council: Her earlier career includes leadership of these rural councils, providing her with a broad perspective on the Victorian local government landscape.
Governance and Board Experience
McKenzie holds several high-level governance positions that extend beyond local councils:
Chair, Zoos Victoria: Appointed by the Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change, she has served on the board since 2018.
Deputy Chair, Coliban Water Corporation: Provides oversight for essential water services.
Advisory Roles: She was an inaugural member of the Homes Victoria Advisory Board (2021–2025) and currently serves on the South East Water Customer and Community Advisory Council.
Ministerial Appointments: She sits on the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Gender Equality, advising on systemic changes within the public sector.
Advocacy and Sector Reform
Gender Equality: As the 2017 President of LGPro, she was a vocal advocate for increasing female representation in local government leadership. She has actively mentored emerging leaders and implemented recruitment strategies to ensure balanced candidate pools.
Governance Expertise: Her work focus includes sector reform, organizational capability development, and good governance practices. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Financial Sustainability: She has advocated for reevaluating local government financial models, particularly in response to challenges like rate capping and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recognition
Named one of the Top 50 Public Sector Women in Victoria.
Recognised as one of the Top 50 Global Government Innovators.
