Liverpool Council public inquiry: Mayor Ned Mannoun begins evidence
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun’s tumultuous relationship with a councillor, which ultimately erupted into defamation proceedings, has turned into a hot topic during the public inquiry into the council.
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun has spoken out about his tumultuous relationship with one of his councillors, which ultimately erupted into defamation proceedings.
Mr Mannoun took the stand for the first time during the Office of Local Government’s inquiry into the dysfunction and maladministration within the organisation, on Friday.
Mr Mannoun confirmed Liverpool councillor Peter Ristevski was his accountant for about seven years, before a public spat led to a deterioration in their relationship.
“There were accusations made by Mr Ristevski regarding an interfaith event that council was hosting, and me banning pork from that function,” Mr Mannoun said.
Mr Mannoun is of Muslim faith, in which the consumption of pork is not allowed.
In evidence to the inquiry, Mr Mannoun was questioned over his failed defamation proceedings against Mr Ristevski who had called him a “crim” and a “grub”on Facebook.
A NSW District Court judge ruled the mayor had not been seriously harmed by the publication.
When Mr Mannoun struggled to recall the exact dates of the court proceedings, he joked “it wasn’t very successful so I’m trying to forget about it as much as I can”.
Mr Ristevski is an independent former Liberal who ran under the slogan “Make Liverpool Great Again” and is a long-term political rival of the mayor and previously served as his deputy.
The councillor has previously accused Mr Mannoun of being “racist against Christian beliefs”, claims the mayor dismissed as ridiculous.
Mr Ristevski served as deputy mayor during Mr Mannoun’s first term as mayor from 2012 to 2016.
The inquiry also heard the council spent more than $311,000 on dealing with 148 code-of-conduct complaints over 2024-25.
Of the complaints, 101 came from councillors, 20 came from the community, 17 came from council staff and 10 came from the general manager. But only 26 complaints about the general manager and councillors were finalised in three months and one in 12 months.
One of the outstanding complaints was one Mr Mannoun lodged in January that had not been finalised.
Asked by counsel assisting the inquiry, Trish McDonald SC, about the delay in finalising complaints, Mr Mannoun said he did raise the problem but failed to receive a helpful answer.
Earlier in the hearing Mr Mannoun gave examples of social media posts potentially bringing the council into disrepute including a public complaint about the lack of maintenance following the floods in early 2022 when grass could not be cut because the ground was too damp.
Another example was on Friday morning, when a community Facebook post criticised the Muslim mayor for spending more on Ramadan than Christmas.
However, Ms McDonald questioned if those examples reflected disrepute and suggested it could restrict freedom of speech, while Commissioner Ross Glover questioned if a clearer definition of disrepute was needed after a robust, factual debate.
Mr Mannoun agreed as long as comments were “not below the belt”.
“We’re all going to disagree but it’s how it’s done,’’ he said.
“I believe I am distinguishing between what is debated in a democracy and free speech versus the disparaging or unworthy comments and have reported as a code of conduct.’’
The inquiry continues.
More Coverage
Originally published as Liverpool Council public inquiry: Mayor Ned Mannoun begins evidence
