Overview
- Preet Singh temporarily stood down as mayor and installed deputy Jasmine Hill as acting mayor while the issue is reviewed, making her the council’s third leader in quick succession.
- All ten Wyndham councillors issued a joint statement urging Singh to resign to restore stability and public confidence in the council.
- The Victorian government said it will appoint a monitor to assist the council to restore stability and ensure good governance.
- The backlash stems from Singh’s 2024 character reference for friend Kashyap Patel, which he signed as a Justice of the Peace and described the offending as a one-off; Patel later pleaded guilty and was jailed for nine months.
- The Liberal Party removed preselected candidate Dinesh Gourisetty after his own reference for Patel came to light and reopened nominations for its Western Metropolitan upper house ticket.