Liverpool councillor Peter Ristevski believes allegations made in state parliament by a Shooters Party MP have cast a shadow over the entire council.
And that is why he wants Liverpool Council to push for an official investigation into the claims made under full parliamentary privilege by MP Robert Borsak in the Legislative Council on September 10.
“If a resident comes up to me and says what are you doing about these outrageous allegations, I want to be able to say that council pushed for an enquiry,’’ Cr Ristevski said.
He has lodged a two part notice of motion which will be decided at the next Liverpool Council meeting, scheduled for tomorrow night, Wednesday, September 30.
1. Have council officers been made aware of an investigation by the Minister for Local Government or Division of Local Government into these outrageous allegations?
2. If not, Council request such an immediate independent investigation to assist in clearing the names of those who were named in the speech?
“I can’t imagine anyone opposing such an obvious course of action,’’ Cr Ristevski said.
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun responded to Mr Borsak’s speech at the time by issuing a robust rejection of his claims.
“I categorically and totally deny all the lies made under parliamentary privilege and challenge those making them to repeat them outside the parliament and face the consequences of defamation laws available to the ordinary citizen,’’ Cr Mannoun said.
“I would welcome any inquiry into the lies made under parliamentary privilege as I have nothing to hide,’’ Mr Mannoun said at the time.
Cr Ristevski said asking the Minister for Local Government to run an enquiry or investigation was a no-brainer and he expected to get the support of a majority of councillors.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“It shows that we have nothing to hide,’’ he said.[/social_quote]
This notice of motion by Cr Ristevski is one of 11 listed for debate at tomorrow night’s meeting.
Four were lodged by Cr Ristevski, three by Labor councillor Anne Stanley, two by Cr Sabrina Mamone, and one each by Cr Peter Harle and Cr Geoff Shelton.
Cr Mamone wants Liverpool to host a women’s forum at the Casula Powerhouse in November to form an organisation for women in the Western Sydney region.
“Women continue to be significantly under-represented in both local government and in the private sector,’’ says Cr Mamone in her notice of motion.
“Currently only 25 percent of women hold councillor positions in the Western Sydney region and a much smaller percentage executive positions on boards of major stakeholders.
“Currently there is no council organisation to advocate for the women of the western region of Sydney and to foster cooperation between councils and organisations.
“The purpose of this organisation is to consider the needs of the local government areas and of the women of the western Sydney region and to make known those needs to the Commonwealth and NSW Governments and the wider community.
‘The establishment of an Organisation for the Women of Western Sydney has the potential to deliver a greater focus on advocacy and cooperation between councils and local organisations in Western Sydney.”
The organisation would:
· consider the needs of both the local government areas it represents and the women of the Western Sydney region;
· lobby the Commonwealth and NSW Governments;
· generate awareness in the wider community.
About time!