Hills Shire Mayor Candidate Peter Gangemi: MP David Elliott warned Liberals over ‘probity concerns’

A senior Liberal MP warned the NSW Liberal Party over ‘probity concerns’ regarding its mayor candidate for a Sydney council as family links to property were revealed.

NSW Liberal Party president Phillip Ruddock was warned about concerns over a Liberal councillors lack of declarations of property interest affecting major planning proposals before he signed off on controversial nominations for local government elections.

NSW Police Minister David Elliott speaks to the media during a press conference at the Bass Hill Operations Centre in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

It is understood Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliott raised “probity concerns” with Mr Ruddock as early as October 22, before the finalisation of nominations for The Hills Shire Council elections, after it was revealed the majority of current Hills Shire councillors would not be preselected alongside outgoing Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne.

Mr Elliott had previously told NewsLocal he “repeatedly warned” Liberal Party President Phillip Ruddock over concern regarding the replacement of outgoing Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne before the referral was made to ICAC.

“I repeatedly warned the state president of issues with new candidates being endorsed,” Mr Elliott said earlier this week.

However, NewsLocal understands party president Phillip Ruddock denies any claim concerns were raised with him at all.

Liberal Party President Phillip Ruddock. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)

It comes after NewsLocal revealed allegations Liberal candidate Peter Gangemi did not disclose his family’s property portfolio as pecuniary interests during votes on planning proposals, development control plans and contributions plans in Box Hill, Castle Hill and Baulkham Hills in the city’s northwest.

Cr Gangemi denies any wrongdoing and said that he has appropriately managed any conflict of interest.

On Wednesday, The Hills Shire Times revealed current Liberal councillor Peter Gangemi was referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption by Mr Elliott after he did not disclose his family’s ownership of property — repeatedly voting through major planning outcomes from September, 2019 to December, 2020.

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The allegations resulted in Shadow Local Government Spokesman Greg Warren joining Mr Elliott in calls for Cr Gangemi to “ stand aside from any position he may have on the council in the future until the ICAC investigation concludes”.

The referral of Cr Gangemi comes after former Strathfield Liberal mayor Antoine Doueihi

was found by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal to have engaged in misconduct after failing to disclose his interests in several properties.

Supplied Editorial Fwd: Pic upload for NSW_ST_NEWS_MAYOR_22FEB20 - thanks Darmo. Let me know if you need me to point out anyone

Mr Warren said it was “in the best interests of all - including Hills Shire ratepayers and Mr Gangemi that he stand aside until the ICAC completes its investigation”.

“Should Mr Gangemi be successful in his bid for the position of Hills Shire Council Mayor following this Saturday’s Local Government elections, it would be sensible for him to stand aside until the ICAC has resolved the matter.” Mr Warren said.

“Ratepayers deserve to know the best interests of their community are the forefront of their elected representative’s minds - but that can’t happen with the cloud of an ICAC investigation hanging over the head of one of those representatives.

Shadow Local Government spokesman Greg Warren . Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“Like anyone, Mr Gangemi should have the right to be presumed innocent until the ICAC investigation is complete.

“But there is no doubt that an ICAC investigation should take priority over Mr Gangemi’s ambitions to serve on the council.”

The NSW Liberal Party would not disclose whether it would continue to endorse its mayoral candidate for The Hills Shire Council elections on December 4.

“It is not possible to comment on issues that may be referred to the Independent Commission,” a Liberal Party spokesman said.

The Hills Shire Council building in Norwest Business Park.

Cr Gangemi was contacted for comment but did not respond.

On Wednesday, Cr Gangemi refuted any allegations of wrongdoing.

“The properties in question have never been owned by me, nor have I ever received any financial benefit from them,” he said. “It is normal for councillors to have conflicts of interest and during my time as a councillor, I believe I have appropriately identified and managed any conflicts of interest on relevant items and no ruling has ever been found against me to say otherwise.

“Your questions have come at a time well after the event and seem to be politically motivated by the upcoming election.

“As with any other councillor, anyone who believes I have acted inappropriately, there is a proper process for raising a complaint through council or the Office of Local Government,” he said.

“It is completely inappropriate to discuss such matters publicly and certainly not in the media”.