Cumberland Council: Labor’s Ola Hamed elected mayor, Liberal Michael Zaiter named deputy

A newly elected Labor mayor – voted in with the Liberals’ support – has urged her colleagues to shed the “toxicity” that plagued the previous term. But critics have slammed the “unholy marriage”.

Cumberland mayor Ola Hamed.

Labor’s Ola Hamed has become the first Muslim woman of Lebanese heritage elected Cumberland mayor, while Liberal Michael Zaiter shed tears after he was named the deputy in a partnership critics labelled a “desperate act” and “unholy marriage”.

One opponent even accused the major parties of engaging in an unprecedented conspiracy to undermine the community’s vote, saying it was a case of “vote Liberal, get Labor”.

Cr Hamed comfortably defeated Our Local Community veteran councillor Paul Garrard 10-3 for the top job on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Cr Zaiter, whose younger brother Martin was elected the Parramatta Lord Mayor on Monday night, overwhelmingly beat the OLC’s Helen Hughes for the deputy position.

Labor councillors Suman Saha, Diane Colman, Glenn Elmore and Enver Yasar voted for Cr Hamed, as did the Greens’ Sujan Selventhiran and Liberals Joseph Rahme, Cr Zaiter, Steve Yang and Nadima Kafrouni-Saba.

Liberal councillor Joseph Rahme.

Independents Ahmed Ouf and Eddy Sarkis abstained from voting for the mayor and deputy.

Cr Garrard’s only supporters were his party cohort of Helen Hughes and Steve Christou.

All Labor, Liberals and Greens councillors backed Cr Zaiter for deputy mayor, with only the OLC behind Cr Hughes.

The Liberals’ shock support of Labor for the top job is a major about-face for the party, which sided with the OLC last term.

It is understood the Labor Party has struck a deal that enables Liberal Cr Rahme to become the mayor in the second half of the new term, between 2026 and 2028.

Cr Hamed said one of her immediate priorities was to unify the chamber and the community.

“That’s what civic leadership should always be about,” she said.

“Councillors, I invite you to leave behind the toxicity of the last seven years and work towards a united chamber.”

Cr Zaiter addressed the Liberals’ “unconventional” support of Labor and called for a calmer chamber compared with the previous term, when rowdy debates forced the adjournment of several meetings.

“I support and urge debate, but we as councillors need to consider the words that we use and how we express them,’’ Cr Zaiter said.

“There is a respectful way, and there is another way. During the last term of council, the other way was chosen on a regular basis by many of our councillors.’’

But Cr Garrard launched a blistering attack on the Liberals’ support of Labor – two organisations usually “at each others’ throats since their formation”.

Paul Garrard unleashed on the Labor-Liberal partnership after he lost his bid to become mayor. Picture: Keri Megelus

“This represents a curious exercise in desperation,’’ he said.

“Such a desperate act. Never have the major parties conspired to undermine the collective vote of 70 per cent of the community.

“I believe it’s chaotic. It is indeed, in my opinion, a coalition of chaos.

“People trusted their Liberal vote not to support Labor.’’

Cr Christou also hit out at the “disappointing’’ mayoral result.

“What’s happened is vote Liberal, get Labor,’’ he said.

“When I look around this chamber, there are nine conservative councillors around this chamber out of 15.’’

He said he was the only councillor who avoided a deal with Labor.

“Alas, we do have this unholy marriage now,’’ he said.

“I hope it works because the people of Cumberland deserve better.’’

Steve Christou and Michael Zaiter in 2021. Picture: Monique Harmer

However, Cr Rahme clapped back at the “smear campaign” by the OLC.

“My vote was driven by a lack of trust, which inflated exponentially over the last three weeks, and a complete lack of respect and utter disregard for a Liberal-OLC relationship that dated back to 2017 when we had control of the chamber,’’ he said.

“My vote for Labor today was a vote for the mayoralty. It was not a vote to signify a desire to compromise my principles and values for the next four years.

“This was a conscious decision driven on the desire I wanted to unite, not divide. Will I continue to vote both for and against the OLC and Labor in this new term of government? Most definitely.’’

Cr Garrard interrupted Cr Rahme and told him to shut up before he said: “I’m not talking to you. Shut up. I’m talking to Cr Hughes”.

Originally published as Cumberland Council: Labor’s Ola Hamed elected mayor, Liberal Michael Zaiter named deputy