Dunedin City Council has accepted the findings of an independent report, which determined that Councillor Benedict Ong materially breached the organisation’s Code of Conduct in a public and deliberate manner.
In a statement, meeting Chair, Councillor Andrew Simms, confirmed that Cr Ong (pictured) has been suspended from all Council committees and subcommittees for nine months from today.
“The suspension does not impact Cr Ong’s attendance at full Council meetings,” said Cr Simms.
“The independent report itself will be kept confidential.”
Last month, Cr Ong confirmed he will run as an Independent for the Dunedin electorate for the upcoming parliamentary general election, stating that council-imposed bans had left him “wing-clipped” and unable to properly execute his duties.
In a social media statement he said that, if elected as an Independent, he will concurrently serve the rest of his full term as a Councillor.
“It is very clear from my novels of public policies and public work here and those who follow my works closely, the interconnected role of Local Government and Central Government for all that we need and have been lacking in our Centre City and closely connected Community of Dunedin City,” he wrote.
“You can either have me empowered to serve our City doubly and most effectively than those who have long sought to block, bar and maliciously falsely politically attack me in trespassing me.
“Or you can have me left with no choice but to step down because being potentially in the Milton Hilton Otago Penitentiary leaves me unable to govern in a 2×3 at all nor technically or effectively.”
