Melton councillor Ashleigh Vandenberg suspended, plans independent election bid amid disputes
Consensus Summary
Melton councillor Ashleigh Vandenberg was suspended for two months after an independent arbiter found she breached the councillor code of conduct through misleading social media posts, including claims of corruption and AI surveillance. Vandenberg, a Wiradjuri and Nari-Nari woman, plans to run as an independent candidate in the November 2026 state election for the seat of Sydenham, held by retiring Labor minister Natalie Hutchins. The suspension follows complaints from eight of the nine councillors and comes amid ongoing disputes involving Vandenbergās partner, Simon Vallone, who faces a VCAT hearing over privacy allegations and was expelled from the ALP for bullying. Both sources confirm Vandenberg disputes the findings, calling them false and defamatory, and intends to continue her council work without pay. The conflict highlights broader tensions in Melton Council, a key Labor-held seat in Melbourneās outer west, where rapid population growth and infrastructure challenges are also pressing issues.
ā Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Ashleigh Vandenberg was suspended from Melton City Council for two months starting June 24, 2026, after an arbiter found she breached the councillor code of conduct with misleading social media posts.
- The arbiterās report found Vandenbergās posts included claims of corruption, AI monitoring of residents, and disrespect toward fellow councillor Phillip Zada, and that she brought discredit to the council.
- Vandenberg plans to run as an independent candidate in the November 2026 state election for the seat of Sydenham, held by retiring Labor minister Natalie Hutchins with a 1.8% margin in 2022.
- Vandenbergās partner, Simon Vallone, faces a VCAT hearing in August 2026 over a privacy complaint alleging Melton Council used AI to track him, and was expelled from the ALP in July 2025 for bullying and harassment.
- The arbiterās report was tabled at Melton Councilās meeting on June 24, 2026, and Vandenberg was ordered to complete social media policy training.
- Eight of Meltonās nine councillors complained against Vandenberg, leading to the suspension.
- Vandenberg is a Wiradjuri and Nari-Nari woman and was elected as Meltonās first Indigenous councillor in 2020.
- Melton Council uses Brandwatch, a social media monitoring tool, but denies using AI to surveil residents.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Vandenberg accused former minister Natalie Hutchins of making a ābaseless attemptā to harm her family after Hutchins alleged Vallone lied about his Aboriginal identity to gain paid roles.
- Hutchins made the allegation under parliamentary privilege on June 2, 2026, and Vallone denies it; The Age does not suggest the claim is true.
- Vandenberg vowed to seek a judicial review of her suspension in the Supreme Court.
- Vallone posted a video on Facebook calling the eight councillors who took action against Vandenberg āmoronsā and threatened legal action against arbiter Diana Price.
- Vandenbergās original post compared Melton Council to āBig Brotherā and claimed the council was using AI to monitor residentsā social media activity.
- Vandenbergās suspension is part of a broader conflict involving court cases, intervention orders, and a potential intervention in the Sydenham seat.
- Vallone faces a mention in Sunshine Magistrates Court for allegedly breaching a public safety intervention order taken out by Zada.
- Vandenbergās partner was president of the Victorian Labor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee before his expulsion.
- Vandenberg called the arbiterās report āfalse and defamatoryā and said she would initiate legal action and refer arbiter Diana Price to the Law Commission of Victoria.
- Vandenberg stated she would continue performing many of her council roles without receiving a council allowance during her suspension.
- The ABC noted tensions between Labor-aligned councillors and Vandenberg/Vallone involve multiple court hearings and intervention orders.
- Meltonās outer-west growth is highlighted, with Rockbank-Mount Cottrell growing by 4,600 people and Fraser Rise-Plumpton by 4,100 people in 2024-25, the third-highest growth rate in Australia.
- Former mayor Steve Abboushi referred Vandenberg to the minister for local government in September 2025 over unsubstantiated allegations of bullying and vilification.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Age states Valloneās claim of Wiradjuri descent is denied by Hutchins, while ABC does not explicitly state whether the claim is true or false, only that Hutchins made the allegation under parliamentary privilege.
- The Age reports Vandenbergās suspension will be formalized on Monday night (June 24) when the arbiterās report is tabled, while ABC does not specify the exact date of the meeting but confirms the report was tabled this week.
- The Age includes a quote from Vallone calling the councillors āmoronsā and threatening legal action, while ABC does not mention this specific post or threat.
Source Articles
Melton councillor banned over āBig Brotherā gibe vows to take her fight to state election
Ashleigh Vandenberg has been suspended for two months from her council role, but says sheāll run as an independent against Labor in November, after an MP accused her partner of lying about being Aboriginal.
Councillor vows to keep working despite suspension for misconduct
Ashleigh Vandenberg, a councillor in Melbourne's outer-west, plans to continue in her role, despite being handed a two-month suspension for misconduct.