Speaking in Parliament last Thursday, South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Inga Peulich said a number of councillors had made allegations about some councillors inappropriately charging alcoholic drinks to the room of a former councillor during a ratepayer-funded conference. Former councillor Peter Vlahos claims the alleged breach of conduct was never investigated by the council. But Cr Geoff Lake denied it was never investigated and Monash Council would not say whether it had been.

In November 2001, then councillors Kathy Magee, Paul Klisaris, Peter Vlahos and Felicity Smith and then mayor Geoff Lake went to Canberra for an Australian Local Government Association conference.

On November 26, a number of drinks were charged to Ms Magee's room. She claims she did not purchase them. While Ms Magee declined to comment, a statement lodged by her at Glen Waverley police station on July 24, 2002 was leaked to the Journal. A letter sent by Ms Magee to Cr Lake and all the Monash councillors on November 26, 2002 was also leaked to the Journal.

Ms Magee's statement claims that as she went to her room at the Crown Plaza hotel in Canberra, Cr Lake allegedly joked she was shouting the next round of drinks, to which she replied "[I'm] going to bed. The next round is on you".

The next morning she discovered drinks had been charged to her room that she had not purchased nor authorised "anyone to use my room number to pay for their purchases".

Mr Vlahos told the Journal he remembered the discussion and that Cr Lake had offered Ms Magee money for the drinks charged to her room.

However, Cr Lake said there had been a "general misunderstanding". "There were arrangements in place to share the purchasing of rounds of drinks."

Ms Magee told the Journal she was horrified that someone had leaked her statements to the media and declined to comment further.

Cr Klisaris said there was "nothing in this story".