Media response - Legal expenses

Published on 25 October 2023

Approach from The Age

I'm working on a story about legal expenses in councils across Victoria. Could you please provide me with the following information.

1. What was the legal expenses paid by your council in 2020/21 and 2022/23 financial years?
2. How much of that money was related to arbitrations?
3. Is your council concerned it is spending too much on legal expenses?

Response

Council’s total legal spend in the 2020/21 financial year was $1,152,405 and in 2022/23 was $2,250,476. There were no legal matters related to arbitration in these years.

Issued: 25 October

To: The Age

Quoting: Cr Tina Samardzija