George Barcha: Fairfield Labor councillor to fight common assault allegation at court hearing

A Sydney Labor councillor, who has worked for both federal and state MPs, will fight allegations he attacked a woman in an upcoming court hearing.

Fairfield councillor George Barcha pictured in Wetherill Park. Picture: Ian Svegovic

A Sydney Labor councillor, who has worked for both federal and state MPs, will fight allegations he attacked a woman in an upcoming court hearing.

Fairfield City councillor George Barcha, a Labor representative on the Parkes ward, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a woman in an alleged early morning attack last year.

Mr Barcha, 53, will front Fairfield Local Court in August for an estimated one-hour hearing, after entering a single not guilty plea to common assault at the same court last year.

When contacted, Mr Barcha said he “maintained his innocence” and would fight the allegation in court.

Not much is known of the alleged incident, other than it took place in April 2022 in Fairfield and that police will allege Mr Barcha attacked a woman about 7am, court documents said.

Fairfield City councillor George Barcha.

Any relationship between Mr Barcha and the alleged victim, and whether they knew each other at all, is unknown.

An engineer by trade, Mr Barcha was most recently elected to Fairfield City Council in 2021, but had served as a councillor and deputy mayor between 2012 and 2016.

One of three Labor councillors on council, he was the party’s mayoral candidate in the 2021 local government elections.

This publication reported in 2015 how Mr Barcha was suspended from the Labor Party for six months for “serious conduct” after allegations of branch stacking in the Smithfield branch.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Barcha worked part-time in federal MP Chris Bowen’s office and as an adviser to sitting Prospect NSW MP Hugh McDermott.

Councillor Barcha pictured when he was deputy mayor of council.

He was newly elected Cabramatta NSW MP Tri Vo’s volunteer campaign lead in the run-up to March’s state election and it is understood that he now works for that MP, although Mr Vo didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Fairfield council were asked what processes were in place when a sitting councillor is charged with a criminal offence, and if later convicted.

A council spokeswoman said “section 275 of the Local Government Act 1993 determines the council process in the event that it is notified of a councillor being convicted of a criminal offence”.

The NSW Labor Party were contacted about what processes it has in place when a party councillor is charged with an offence.

Mr Barcha will return for a hearing at Fairfield court in August.

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