Liverpool Council rejects proposed NSW Government ban on confidential councillor briefing sessions

A southwest Sydney council has rejected the Labor state government’s plan to abolish confidential briefing sessions, with councillors from the same party warning it would force them to “put out fires”.

A southwest Sydney mayor has blasted Labor councillors, accusing them of being “scared to speak in public” after they rejected their own party’s plan to abolish confidential briefing sessions.

Liberal Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun described his political rivals’ vote as “embarrassing” for Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig, after Labor councillors warned the state government’s proposed ban on the controversial sessions would force them to “put out fires”.

The NSW Government recently proposed code of conduct reforms to “increase transparency” and stamp out “bad councillor behaviour”.

One key change involves banning closed door briefing sessions, except in very limited circumstances, amid concerns they lack public transparency and accountability.

The confidential sessions can involve staff briefing councillors on issues relating to planning matters, tenders and contract agreements.

Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun. Picture: Monique Harmer

During last week’s council meeting, Mr Mannoun proposed in a mayoral minute that the council endorse all recommendations from the state government, which were “essential for maintaining and enhancing public trust in local government”.

Mr Mannoun also called for the council to immediately implement open door briefing sessions and for the NSW Government to consider adopting a similar conduct framework at the state level.

NSW Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig. Picture: Nikki Short

“Liverpool Council does have a relationship with the Minister for Local Government and the Office of Local Government, and I think it’s important that we demonstrate that we are open-minded and we’re happy to be leaders,” Mr Mannoun said at the meeting.

“I think it’s a good idea … I think we should support the minister and we should try this and be the first (council to ban closed door briefings) and see how it goes.”

Mr Mannoun took the stance despite having long been at loggerheads with Mr Hoenig over the latter’s attempts to delay this year’s Liverpool local government election and suspend all its councillors.

He called for Premier Chris Minns to sack Mr Hoenig at the height of the drama earlier this year, labelling the minister a “hypocrite”.

Labor Liverpool councillor Betty Green. Picture: Supplied.

Despite the Liberal mayor’s support for the state government’s proposal, Labor councillor Betty Green raised concerns about passing the motion “prematurely” without further discussion to “refine or enhance the recommendations”.

“I’m not against integrity, accountability and transparency… I’m just saying that it would be great if we could have a discussion,” she said.

Dr Green said the closed briefing sessions allowed councillors to “ask frank questions and to receive frank advice” and was unsure if this would continue if the closed sessions were banned.

“I have some reservations that sometimes people may hear something and reinterpret it and before you know it’s out in the public … and councillors will be put in the position of having to put out fires,” she said.

Independent deputy mayor Peter Harle said he would be hesitant to have open council sessions without the “privilege that state and federal parliament has”.

“We do not have the protection and, quite often, you may have information that may not be 100 per cent reliable, but you can’t ask questions because of the fear of being challenged over the issue and legal actions are taken against you,” he said.

Following the meeting, Mr Mannoun told this masthead it was “pretty embarrassing for the Labor minister to not have support of the Labor councillors”.

“We want to be the first council to do this but, unfortunately, it's a shame the Labor councillors don’t want this,” he said.

“I’m happy to have all briefing sessions live-steamed and open to the public, and I thought all Labor (councillors) and independents would have.

“They talked about transparency during the election campaign but, when it got down to it, they decided to get scared to speak in public.”

The mayoral minute was lost, with Labor councillors Dr Green, Mira Ibrahim, Sam Karnib, Ethan Monaghan voting against the motion, along with independent Mr Harle.

Councillor Peter Ristevski did not vote but was recorded as voting against.