Second councillor joins push to overturn gag order
An Adelaide City councillor has backflipped on his decision to support a controversial gag order, and will ask for it to be removed — just days after another councillor vowed to scrap the new rule.
City
Don't miss out on the headlines from City. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- ACC files code of conduct complaint against Cr Anne Moran
- Adelaide City councillors vote 7-4 to enforce media gag
- I know what a gag order is — and this is it
Two Adelaide City councillors will back down from a controversial decision to restrict elected members from sharing their proposals with the media.
That likely leaves the future of the policy in the hands of Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor.
Crs Alexander Hyde and Jessy Khera say they will support motions to revoke the gag rule, despite voting in favour of it last week.
A further three councillors are wavering over which way they will vote at a meeting next week.
Cr Hyde, a member of majority faction Team Adelaide, and Cr Anne Moran have lodged separate motions to have the policy overturned.
The original vote was 7-4 in favour of the gag rule, which stops councillors talking to media about the motions they have lodged until they are published in council agendas.
The votes of Crs Hyde and Khera would be enough to overturn the decision 6-5. But Cr Phil Martin, a vocal opponent of the gag, will be overseas and miss next week’s meeting.
That means Ms Verschoor, pictured, could be forced to use her casting vote to break a 5-5 deadlock.
Cr Khera said he was “inclined to repeal” in light of the public backlash. “Hopefully, the focus will now return to our core duties of lowering rates and efficiently delivering council services,” he said.
Cr Hyde said: “Rightly or wrongly, this became a distraction and the politics were clearly lost. I’m not here to play politics, I’m here to deliver for my ratepayers.”
Crs Mary Couros, Arman Abrahimzadeh and Franz Knoll, who all previously voted for the rule, said they would consider both sides of the debate next week before making a decision.
Cr Abrahimzadeh said he could be swayed either way.
“I am open minded and will go and listen to the debate, see the points put across and vote on how the debate swayed me,” he said.
Cr Knoll said: “I’ll see what happens on the floor, what the arguments are for and against.”
Cr Moran, who lodged a motion to have the rule overturned last Friday, said Cr Hyde’s about turn was a “hypocritical” move, but she wanted the ban overturned.
She said his change of heart was probably a way to overcome the backlash the council had endured since the rule was enforced.
“There is no way (Team Adelaide) will say ‘we were wrong, it was ridiculous and we have learnt our lesson’,” Cr Moran said.
“That is not in their DNA.”
Ms Verschoor did not return calls yesterday.
A bit rich? Haigh’s gobsmacking luxe advent calendar is back
It’s only October, but SA’s favourite chocolatier is gearing up for Christmas in a big way – albeit with a whopping price tag. Take out a second mortgage and pre-order one now.
CBD property fraudster sentenced for stealing millions from investors
A property fraudster has been given a lengthy prison sentence after pocketing more than $5.5m from Chinese investors eager to buy Adelaide real estate.