Kerryn Phelps reveals why she had to leave Clover Moore’s independent team

KERRYN Phelps has sensationally quit Clover Moore’s independent team saying she felt “gagged” by the Lord Mayor’s leadership style. Now, she vows to go it alone as a “true independent”

Kerryn Phelps pictured at Monday’s council meeting. Picture: Rohan Kelly

DEPUTY Lord Mayor Kerryn Phelps has pointed to a culture of secrecy and censorship within the Clover Moore independent team as the primary reason for her shock departure.

“I was really very concerned that I couldn’t speak openly about topics that were of importance and I was very much gagged from speaking out,” Dr Phelps told Central Sydney on Tuesday morning.

The newly independent councillor said she felt compelled to leave due to what she called “ongoing issues” since she was elected at last year’s local government elections in September.

“Clover has made speeches railing against the party political system and saying that all votes should be conscience votes but clearly not when comes to her own party,” she said.

“It was very clear that it would not be a pretty sight if I was to vote against the team, and when I joined I really believed I was joining a team of independents,” Dr Phelps said.

Dr Phelps said the tipping point was when she raised questions about the levels of independent scrutiny when it came to the Lord Mayor’s budget.

Kerryn Phelps dropped a bombshell and left Clover Moore's party. Picture: Danny Aarons

She said she was blocked at every turn when it should have been a simple process of question-and-answer.

“I thought, it’s time that we shine a light on this to get transparency on the issue, but I knew if I spoke out against this specifically that my life would be made unpleasant,” Dr Phelps said.

A grim and gaunt Dr Phelps sat through Monday’s meeting stony-faced as news of her defection spread.

Following her announcement, the Lord Mayor took to social media calling Dr Phelps out for her “lack of understanding and support of City policies and our vision that we took to the community last election”.

Cr Moore said there had been tension following her decision to revoke support for Dr Phelps to continue as Deputy Lord Mayor for a second year.

“It is fair to say we’re not on the same page when it comes to how to serve the community,” Cr Moore said.

“When we started this term in office I committed to rotating the Deputy Lord Mayoralty around the Independent team, to provide an opportunity for other talented team members, but as this moment neared, that became a point of tension.”

Dr Phelps denied that the loss of her position as deputy mayor had factored into her decision.

Clover Moore pictured at Monday’s meeting. Picture: Rohan Kelly

She said she had been told after the September election she would not be returned to number two in 2018.

“I thought to myself ‘Just buckle down and do the work’,” Dr Phelps said.

The decision to leave came down to a fear of having to compromise her true values to toe the party line.

“I had to face an existential dilemma which was ‘Do I continue like this and at some point feel very compromised and vote against an issue I feel very strongly about, or do I really search my heart about what I stand for which is as a true independent?’,” Dr Phelps said.

Cr Moore said she had “never asked anyone on my team to vote in a way that compromised their beliefs”.

“People on my team share values and a vision,” she said.

In happier times, Moore and Phelps pictured in 2016.

“What has been increasingly clear over the last six months is that Cr Phelps does not share our values or vision.”

Looking to the future, Dr Phelps said she was open to running for Deputy Lord Mayor again.

She would likely come up against a candidate appointed by Cr Moore. She would also consider throwing her hat into the ring as Lord Mayor when the time comes.

“(When I was elected) I said it was too far out to comment, that I needed to have some experience on council before I prepared to make that decision,” Dr Phelps said.

“It’s still a bit far out but when the time comes, if I decide to stand, then it will basically be up to the people of Sydney.”

DEPUTY LORD MAYOR RESIGNS

Dr Phelps said she had been heartened by the response to her decision from within the Clover Moore team and from her fellow councillors.

For the time being there will be some “shifting” within the chamber, but the priority is still the business of council, Dr Phelps said.