The Victorian Ombudsman has altered fact, figure, date, to re-present only Council claims.   No integrity, no impartiality, no accuracy is demonstrated.  Our questions have not been answered. 

The Victorian Ombudsman refused to consider making any recommendations to Council.

The Victorian Ombudsman’s decision cannot be changed.  The Victorian Inspectorate advises that if we have money to take Knox Council to court.  

We were assigned a case-manager who claims cats are being treated no differently to dogs, telling us we ‘can walk cats on leads,’ which even the RSPCA ‘does not recommend’.  In Internal Review we were assigned a case-manager who made further inaccuracy to discredit and dismiss.  Ombudsman Outcomes: https://www.academia.edu/79098963/Knox_AdvoCats_Victorian_Ombudsman_Outcomes p6: altering record, p15: review 

Lack of Integrity in the Victorian Ombudsman and the Local Government Inspectorate affects us all.  Does any agency act with integrity when paid from the public purse?  Where is any effective watchdog?  How can we make this an election issue?  

Knox Kitten Killers act without conscience - we pay the price. 

Knox has six selfish Councillors determined to cost ratepayers six times more to kill more kittens and wildlife, and traumatise shelter-workers - all because they do not research, do not consult, and mis-inform for their personal interest.  They have stated they are ‘proud community leaders’, of their ‘legacy’.  They take pay-rises without putting to vote.  Stating as ‘tough decision’ being ‘fiscally responsible’.  They hide questions, and block residents, from their celebrity Facebooks.  They decree we need an ‘education’, in power.  Make up a ‘protection’ism Order to deal unjust deaths.

Since September 2020 I have fought Knox Council to try to save native birds, wildlife, cats, canopy trees, for a fair go for residents, to stop hiding objections, for consultation.  I have done all I can do myself, I took time off from matters now urgent.  Many would need to care, and work together to save lives and hold this council to account.

Watch for a future Update with scientific research government reports proving lifelong cat containment fails the people, wildlife and welfare.

Below is the final letter sent to the Victorian Ombudsman:

9th August, 2022

Dear                 ,

Now that the internal review is completed, please can you give answers to our questions. (letters 6/3/2022 - 6/6/2022). 

The Victorian Ombudsman has decided that consultation was conducted on 24-hrs, before the vote of 28th June 2021.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could clearly tell us, in particular why the Local Government Act 2020, the Knox Community Engagement Policy and the Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan do not have to be followed in the administrative process of making the 24-hr cat curfew.

Why the Victorian Ombudsman has approved unverifiable DAMP surveys?  

Why the Victorian Ombudsman altered the University of Melbourne’s ‘random sample’ quote figure of ‘800’ to ‘400’, and deemed ‘reasonable’ in applying to a non-random-sample?

Why the Victorian Ombudsman altered the enactment date from June 2021, to August 2021, and made first announcement of this change, when residents were all informed by Council that enactment was from the 28th of June 2021?

Why the Victorian Ombudsman decided that consultation was conducted, without there being any advertising, in any year, of consideration of 24-hrs prior to June 28th, 2021?

Why a statement is made of a meeting which did not occur?  ‘In that time the case officer communicated with Knox AdvoCats agreeing to an additional meeting with additional parties (occurring on 23 February 2022) with a response finally being provided on 7 March 2022.’  The case-manager did not undertake any meeting, with any additional party.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could clearly state why the Victorian Ombudsman has approved Council's administrative process. 

Can any government-funded agency implement compliance, or recommendation for compliance, of Local Councils to the Local Government Act and relevant policies, and oversee integrity in administrative process?  Or are Local Councils self-governing, in regards to adherence to the Act and policy?

The decision of 24-hr cat curfew costs residents six-times more than Community Cat Programs.  The Australian Pet Welfare Foundation’s scientific evidence in reports to governments shows that 24-hr cat curfews do not work, and result in greater killing of kittens and wildlife and much trauma to shelter workers, and communities.  https://petwelfare.org.au/saving-live/

It is unclear to us why the Victorian Ombudsman has decided that there was consultation on 24-hrs, when there was no mention in any advertising of considering 24-hrs at any time, in any year, before the vote was made on 28th June 2021.

The Victorian Ombudsman corrects a Council website inaccuracy, appearing to make a legal correction benefitting Council.

Very much hoping for clear answers, thank you.

Regards,

Knox AdvoCats