Liverpool City Council mayor Ned Mannoun has been returned to office with more than 52,000 votes in last month’s NSW local government elections.
“I am honoured and humbled by the overwhelming show of community support and pledge myself to serve all the residents of Liverpool City,” Liberal candidate Mannoun said. “The most important thing is that the people have spoken and have selected the community leaders they want. The people voted for a clear plan, and we look forward to delivering on the plan.”
Mannoun’s mayoral re-election – his third tilt at the top job – comes amid continuing investigation into council maladministration and corruption.
In early September, the Land and Environment Court ruled a public inquiry instigated by the NSW Office of Local Government would go ahead after efforts were made by Liverpool City Council to block the legal bid.
Legal action was taken by council after it questioned the legitimacy of an interim report from the Office of Local Government that detailed “serious concerns” about widespread dysfunction within Mannoun’s administration.
“It has become clear that … there is major dysfunction across the entire organisation,” Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said in July, when a public inquiry was initially ordered by the NSW government.
The interim report contained a number of allegations against Liverpool City Council relating to recruitment, procurement, financial management, and development applications. There was also widespread evidence of a toxic workplace culture.
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun described the report as a “shopping list of unfounded allegations by unknown people who may hold a grudge against me and the council”.
However, on 2 September Justice Robson ruled that the interim report “was not an act of partiality” and that the Office of Local Government could continue to hold the public inquiry, which is ongoing.
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