A councillor in Melbourne’s outer-west plans to continue in her role, despite being handed a two-month suspension for misconduct.

Melton Councillor Ashleigh Vandenberg has also announced she plans to run against the Labor party in the upcoming state election for the seat of Sydenham.

It is the latest development in tensions between Labor-aligned Melton councillors, and Cr Vandenberg and her partner that involve multiple court hearings and intervention orders.

A report by an independent arbiter tabled at this week’s council meeting found Cr Vandenberg breached the councillor code of conduct on social media multiple times between February and August 2025, including using the hashtag “#BigBrother”, and describing the outer suburban municipality as “fast becoming a 3rd world state”.

The arbiter found her posts were misleading, brought discredit on the council and undermined public trust.

They also found she breached the code by failing to treat another councillor with respect, although Cr Vandenberg — a Wiradjuri and Nari Nari woman who was elected as Melton’s first Indigenous councillor in 2020 — said it was her and her family who had been the victims of bullying and racial vilification.