Liverpool Council has launched an eleventh-hour appeal to prevent the Minns government from deferring its local government election and appointing an administrator, despite a state minister labelling a litany of allegations “the worst I’ve seen of any council”.

As Liverpool’s acting chief executive Jason Breton signalled the council’s legal strategy, which could cost ratepayers more than $1 million, Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig on Thursday reiterated the list of “extremely serious” allegations contained in a damning preliminary report released in mid-July.

“The investigation ... raised very serious concerns that the issue of Liverpool went beyond the non-merit-based selection of staff,” Hoenig said at budget estimates, adding that the interim report detailed issues that were “probably the worst I’ve seen of any council”.

At the hearing, Hoenig rattled off an extensive list of allegations contained in the contested report, including bullying and sexual harassment, elected officials inappropriately interfering in development applications, nepotistic hiring processes, destruction of public records and bypassing procurement processes.

The Office of Local Government’s report was handed down on July 19, and the council launched legal action against the state government in the Land and Environment Court. The statement of claim alleged Hoenig and the Office of Local Government secretary Brett Whitworth had displayed bias in their publication of the report.

As part of the three-day hearing, the government’s barrister conceded that the interim report had not afforded procedural fairness to those named.

In a comprehensive dismissal on Monday, Justice John Robson ruled that no apprehended or actual bias had been shown and that the government did not unduly influence the investigation. But just hours before the appeal period expired, Breton emailed councillors, informing them he had appealed against the ruling.

“I have made this decision in the best interests of Council after considering the advice on prospects and overall utility of an appeal provided by counsel,” he said in an email seen by the Herald. “ I have not taken this decision lightly.”