Leppington MP Nathan Hagarty to stand by concerns after Liverpool Council CEO John Ajaka suspended

A southwest Sydney MP has vowed to stand behind his “grave concerns” expressed on Liverpool council after CEO John Ajaka was suspended during a chaotic meeting.

Liverpool CEO John Ajaka has been granted leave with pay following a Wednesday council meeting. Picture: Adam Ward

Leppington MP Nathan Hagarty has vowed to stand behind his “grave concerns” on Liverpool council’s political independence despite calls to retract his statement after CEO John Ajaka was suspended during a chaotic five-hour meeting.

Police were called to the Liverpool Council meeting on Wednesday as United Services Union members refused to leave the chambers for a confidential session to discuss Mr Ajaka’s employment.

The former liberal upper house member was granted leave with pay “until the concerns raised in Ned Mannoun’s mayoral minute have undergone an independent investigation”.

Leppington MP Nathan Hagarty.

Mr Ajaka is alleged to have told Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun to “shut the f – k up” during a budget meeting on Tuesday April 16 with deputy mayor Fiona Macnaught and director of corporate support Farooq Portelli.

Sources said they were shocked at the alleged outburst and Mr Ajaka was offered opportunities to retract his statement, apologise and to consider taking stress leave, which he refused.

Prior to the confidential session, councillors moved an urgent motion for the Office of Local Government to launch an investigation and for the Leppington MP “to retract his comments regarding his grave concerns” of council’s management under the suspended CEO.

Liverpool CEO John Ajaka.

On Thursday, Mr Hagarty said he “stood by” his comments during his March 21 state parliamentary speech where he claimed a “council within a council” had formed following a string of Liberal-affiliated hires into senior roles.

He said the council’s “pattern of hiring is cause for concern” as no fewer than seven associates of the Liberal Party and Mr Ajaka had been hired within Liverpool council.

“I won’t be keep silent so long as the residents of Leppington continue to raise concerns about the administration of Liverpool Council,” he said.

“There’s no disputing the accuracy of my speech and it’s in the public interest for those issues to be on the record.”

Police were called as tensions simmered at the meeting.

Mr Hagarty said instead of concentrating on “egos and appearances”, Liverpool council should be addressing why roads are full of potholes and seniors don’t have footpaths to walk on.

“In the middle of a cost of living and housing crisis, we have a Council racked with internal disputes,” he said.

“This letter is simply another attempt by Liverpool Council to try and shut down the truth about what’s going on there. Enough is enough, get on with the job or call in the administrator.”

A Liverpool council spokesman said council are aware of Mr Hagarty’s parliament speech made under parliamentary privilege.

“Council considers all appropriate policies and procedures were followed,” the spokesman said.

“However, as the matters raised are subject to an investigation by the Department of Local Government, it would be inappropriate for the council to make any further comment.”

A further investigation will look into offensive, racist and religious chants made by attendees during a USU rally before the Wednesday meeting over the potential sacking of 150 council jobs.

Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun. Picture: Monique Harmer

A protest sign outside Liverpool Council.

USU members rallied to “not stand for Ned sacking another CEO” as protesters brought signs that read “Keep John (Ajaka) Erase Ned (Mannoun)” to the controversial meeting.

Mr Mannoun attempted to shut down “rumours” of job cuts, telling the gallery he had “never heard in any conversation through myself, CEO, managers, any councillor talking about 150 job losses”.

“If you look at our draft budget document, our workforce is going to grow,” he said.

Liverpool Council director of operations Jason Breton was appointed as the acting chief executive in the interim.

When approached for comment from Mr Ajaka, a Liverpool Council spokesman said: “council does not comment on the contents of private meetings”.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said police were requested to attend the council chambers after attendees refused to leave at the conclusion of the meeting.

“Officers attended and left without incident,” she said.