Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s deputy Kerryn Phelps in shock resignation
UPDATE: The state government has slammed the lavish expenses policy which sparked the bombshell resignation of Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s deputy Professor Kerryn Phelps.
NSW
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LORD Mayor Clover Moore’s former deputy Kerryn Phelps has expanded on her reasons for quitting Ms Moore’s political party, saying the “hammer falls pretty hard” if anyone expresses alternative views within the group.
This comes as the state government has slammed the lavish expenses policy which sparked the bombshell resignation.
City of Sydney Deputy Mayor Professor Kerryn Phelps resigned from Ms Moore’s political party last night in a blazing row over transparency surrounding the massive $3.6 million budget given to the Lord Mayor to run her personal office.
The package includes a whopping 22 full-time staff for Ms Moore.
Prof Phelps says she asked numerous questions about the massive entitlements package but never received answers and Town Hall was never able to justify why the figures were so large, though she does not allege any impropriety. She also claims Ms Moore’s political party is not “truly independent”.
Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton intervened in the bitter row today, saying Prof Phelps’ resignation speaks volumes about the way Ms Moore is running her office.
“For the Deputy Lord Mayor to resign says a lot of about Clover Moore and how she runs her office and her expenses,” Ms Upton said.
“This is a timely reminder to all councils that ratepayers’ money must be spent to benefit their communities.”
Speaking on ABC radio this morning, Prof Phelps said there was no room within Ms Moore’s party for dissenting views.
“I’m actually pretty shocked that the hammer falls pretty hard if you have an alternate opinion,” she said.
“My expectations were that I was standing on a team of independents ... and that we would be able to, if necessary, vote according to our conscience.
“That hasn’t been the case and anyone who knows me knows that I am nobody’s rubber stamp.”
Prof Phelps said she asked a series of questions about Ms Moore’s new entitlements package but was “blocked at every step of the way”.
Ms Moore today rejected her deputy’s move as a stunt.
“The claims that the Deputy Lord Mayor made are baseless,” she said in a late night post to her Lord Mayoral website.
“All her questions about my office and the budget were answered and she told me she had no further questions.
“I am disappointed but not surprised that this stunt has occurred a week after I told her that I would not be supporting her bid to remain Deputy Lord Mayor.”
Ms Moore said she was “unhappy” with Prof Phelps’ “understanding and support of City policies and our vision, her attendance at important community and City events”.
Prof Phelps, a qualified GP and author of numerous health books, was one of six councillors elected on Ms Moore’s ticket at last September’s election and was widely tipped to eventually succeed the 71-year-old.
Her resignation from Ms Moore’s party comes after months of negative headlines and missteps for the embattled Lord Mayor, including revelations about her lavish entitlements, involving a whopping 22 full-time staff and a massive $3.6 million annual office budget.
Prof Phelps spoke out about the council’s recently updated entitlements policy at the Monday night meeting, saying she has asked questions about the allowances that have not been answered.
Liberal councillor Christine Forster has savaged the Lord Mayor over the described the entitlements question, saying it was “way beyond community expectations”.
Prof Phelps told The Daily Telegraph she was still committed to working for the city.
“I want to continue to work for the people of Sydney but I need to do that as a true independent. I’m doing this with a very heavy heart,” she said. “My priority is the residents, the businesses and the visitors to Sydney. I think that’s the priority of every councillor. They’re a really good group of people.”
Despite resigning from Ms Moore’s party, Prof Phelps is expected to continue as Deputy Lord Mayor until her term expires in October, setting the scene for several months of potential dysfunction at Town Hall as the women try to work together. She will continue as an independent councillor.
Ms Moore took aim at her deputy in her online post.
“What is not surprising is that this line of accusation and her resignation came just a week after I told her that I would not be supporting her bid to remain Deputy Lord Mayor,” she said.
Ms Moore’s party differs from many grassroots independent parties. It is relatively large and well-funded, and with Ms Moore approaching her 13th year as Lord Mayor, the party has become entrenched as part of the political establishment.
Ms Moore, who increased her party’s majority in September’s election, was a state MP for 24 years before being forced to resign by laws prohibiting MPs from also sitting on councils.
It is believed Prof Phelps is likely to support Ms Moore’s party on many matters.
It is understood Prof Phelps had concerns about being able to vote completely freely in upcoming City of Sydney matters, rather than being part of an organised political party, which usually votes as a bloc.
Prof Phelps has been a long-term advocate on public health issues and civil rights, including same-sex marriage.
She was the first woman elected president of the Australian Medical Association.
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