Salim Mehajer: Controversial former Auburn deputy mayor cleared of any wrongdoing while on council
FORMER Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has been cleared of wrongdoing by an inquiry into alleged dodgy dealings at his old council. But the probe has found his lavish wedding may have breached the Local Government Act.
NSW
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FORMER Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has been cleared of wrongdoing following a public inquiry — costing about $1 million — into alleged dodgy dealings at his old council.
The inquiry made no adverse findings against Mr Mehajer, nor any of his former Auburn Council colleagues, including Ronney Oueik, Le Lam, Hicham Zraika, Ned Attie and Steve Yang — who formed a voting bloc dubbed the “super six”.
The probe, launched after Mr Mehajer’s opulent wedding thrust the western Sydney council into the national spotlight, did however find the developer may have breached disclosure provisions in the Local Government Act while buying a council car park, NSW Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton said today.
“It really was the wedding that killed the council,” Ms Upton told parliament as she referred to Mr Mehajer’s “lavish and loutish” party.
The document has now been referred to ICAC.
The investigation, led by Richard Beasley SC, has recommended a review be conducted into road closing procedures to give notice to residents so they can lodge objections.
The once-wannabe prime minister copped a $220 fine for the August 2015 celebration which included a cavalcade of sports cars and four helicopters.
In his report, Mr Beasley said the Auburn Council investigation was limited in its scope because it was unable to compel witnesses to answer questions.
He’s recommended the Act be changed to allow a commissioner appointed to a public inquiry to do so.
All of Auburn’s former councillors can run in this year’s council elections, except Mr Mehajer who was hit with a three-year ban from running corporations in 2015, which prevents him holding public office until 2018. He has declined to comment.
Auburn Council was sacked last year and merged with Holroyd into the new Cumberland Council. It is due to hold elections in September.
Former councillor Irene Simms, part of a rival bloc dubbed the “poor four”, said she was “extremely disappointed” with the inquiry’s outcome.
“I don’t see that this will give the community hope of a better council next time around,” she added.
Former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo gets a taste of Australia ... and Mehajers
Former local government minister Paul Toole ordered the inquiry following “serious concerns” councillors were “misusing their position” to “obtain significant planning outcomes for themselves, associated companies, relatives and fellow councillors”.
The issue centred on the fact that a number of Auburn councillors, including Mr Mehajer, were property developers or agents and were taking planning decisions with the potential to boost property values.
Scrutiny of the council exploded after Mr Mehajer’s notoriously lavish wedding reception, including a fleet of helicopters.
Lidcombe’s Francis Street was closed to make way for the event and flyers were distributed to nearby residents ordering them not to park on the street. The flyers were not authorised by Auburn Council.
Inquiry Commissioner Richard Beasley ordered a review of road closure policies, noting that: “While multiple helicopter landings and partial road closures … are not synonymous with every wedding, it is clear … Mr Mehajer sought appropriate approvals from the relevant authorities.”
Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton said: “This is important because the unauthorised road closures that occurred for Mr Mehajer’s lavish and loutish wedding reception in Lidcombe prompted all this focus on this council.”
She was critical of the inquiry’s inability to compel witnesses to answer questions.
Meanwhile, a separate public inquiry into North Sydney Council found evidence of widespread dysfunction and open conflict between Mayor Jilly Gibson, councillors and its general manager.
Ms Upton said the inquiries were a “timely reminder that some councils, mayors and councillors and staff have failed their duty in delivering for their communities”.
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