AN AILING Christine Nixon has emphatically stood by her decision to resign under the cover of the federal election.
The outgoing bushfire recovery chief was awaiting surgery on her gall bladder after being rushed to hospital early yesterday, the Herald Sun reports.
Her office yesterday released a statement in which Ms Nixon stood by her decision to announce her resignation on Saturday, soon after Julia Gillard called the election.
The timing of the resignation has raised criticism that she was hiding behind the election to minimise negative coverage.
That claim has been vigorously denied by the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority.
"Christine understands people have been critical of the timing of her announcement, but stands by her decision to make sure the people from Community Recovery Committees and the bereaved gathering at a development weekend were the first to know," VBRRA said.
"This was the first time those community representatives had come together to talk about their futures."
Ms Nixon was rushed to hospital early Sunday after suffering severe pains. She was due to be operated on today.
The timing was attacked by the Opposition, but Government insiders also stressed they believed it was a coincidence. Premier John Brumby was told of her resignation on Friday and sources said the timing of her announcement was up to Ms Nixon.
Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said secrecy and burying bad news on busy days had become a habit for the Brumby Government.
He had no doubt Mr Brumby had a hand in the timing of the announcement.
Mr Baillieu said Mr Brumby and Ms Nixon should have come clean as soon as they knew she would not continue.
Journalists were told as late as Friday afternoon that Ms Nixon would be "around for the long haul".
Hazeldene resident Jane Carey said she had changed her mind about Christine Nixon in the past couple of months and was now glad to see the back of her.
Ms Carey said it was important to use the fall of Ms Nixon to restructure the recovery.
"I would like to see the revamp of the whole situation in regards to VBRRA, and more community involvement," she said.
s"The community recovery committees seem to be managing the situation without much community input."
About 75 per cent of Hazeldene homes were destroyed during Black Saturday, and the little town near Flowerdale feels neglected.
Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction federal Parliamentary Secretary Bill Shorten said he had not been surprised by Christine Nixon's decision to step down.
However, Mr Shorten was not aware it would happen on Saturday, and was only informed about it on that day.
He believed the timing of her announcement was only influenced by the fact that the community recovery committees were meeting on Saturday.
"I understand she felt it was most important the first people to hear her news on the day should be the people she's worked most closely with for the past 18 months."
Kinglake resident Wally Spezza did not blame Christine Nixon for the slow rebuilding process because, he said, VBRRA had no power.
He challenged the government to take a lead role in getting more community involvement to speed the process.
"Mr Brumby and Mr Rudd promised to rebuild brick by brick and that's not happening," he said.
"That's not Christine Nixon's fault, it's the State Government's fault, it's the Federal Government's fault and it's the council's fault.
"What we have had to date so far hasn't really worked.
Read more on the Herald Sun.
