Date: 14 July 2026

Hepburn Shire Council‘s governance crisis has escalated sharply, with three more councillors stood down after being served with criminal charges by the same private individual behind earlier action against the council.

Council has confirmed that Cr Shirley Cornish, Cr Lesley Hewitt and Cr Pat Hockey have been served with charges and automatically stood down under the Local Government Act 2020. The matters are proceeding as private prosecutions and, like the earlier charges, have not involved an investigation, fact-finding process, or assessment by Victoria Police or any public prosecutorial authority, council said.

The latest stand-downs follow the automatic stand-down of Mayor Cr Tony Clark on 10 July, and Cr Don Henderson in March. Chief executive Bradley Thomas remains in his role, having been charged in the same March action as Cr Henderson.

Council’s statement confirms that five of Hepburn Shire’s seven councillors are now stood down, leaving only two able to sit. As a result, council meetings of any kind cannot proceed, with a quorum unable to be reached.

Council characterised the pattern of charges as a purposeful manipulation of the Local Government Act 2020, saying it appeared intended not to address any reasonably suspected wrongdoing, but to disrupt elected representatives and hamper council’s ability to serve its community. Council said it was “bitterly disappointed” with the impact on residents’ right to democratic representation.

Council said day-to-day services, including bin collection, library operations and road maintenance, would continue unaffected, and that it continues to work with the Victorian Government and relevant authorities to address the situation.

Cr Brian Hood, one of the two remaining councillors along with Cr Tim Drylie, told ABC News that there was currently no mayor, given the council has no capacity to meet in the current circumstances. Cr Cornish had stepped into the position after Cr Clark’s stand-down on 10 July, and has now herself been stood down.