GANNAWARRA Shire councillors Sonia Wright and Mark Arians, who at last month's meeting were the subject of a surprise motion calling for the appointment of an arbiter to make misconduct findings against them, say they believe the move was sparked by their complaints of bullying being aired in state parliament.

The November Gannawarra Shire Council meeting was the first ordinary council meeting since the Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, raised the issue of "a Gannawarra shire bullying case" in parliament and requested a commission of inquiry be formed to investigate the performance of the council and its CEO.