NSW council elections: Calls to ban developers from running for local government

It led to Salim Mehajer’s political demise and now fresh calls have been made to block developers with ‘vested interests’ from running as candidates in council elections.

A Parramatta councillor has called for moves to block property developers from running as candidates in the NSW local government elections in December.

Labor representative Donna Davis’s motion was unanimously supported at a Monday night council meeting after she called for all councils statewide to back a bill before parliament which would prohibit developers on councils.

“When I talk to people in the street, in my suburb, in my ward, across the LGA about this, they express their concerns about the inherent conflict of having property developers on local councils,’’ Cr Davis said.

“They know property developers should not be on local councils.

“The public expects it and they do deserve it.’’

A ban would support developers from becoming councillors not just in Sydney but NSW.

Cr Davis said developers’ close associates should also be blocked from running.

“The largest conflict of interest for property developers sitting on local councils is the fact that councils do have a role to play in planning,’’ she said.

“Property developers have a vested interest in planning and decisions.

“Therefore, allowing them to serve as local councillors erodes the ability of councils to make independent decisions on planning matters.’’

In most NSW councils, development applications worth more than $5 million are determined by local independent planning panels but councillors who are developers can vote on matters such as zoning and developers’ contributions.

Cr Davis wants to make the rules consistent statewide.

“The public of NSW deserve a system that has no ambiguity in relation to this matter, she said.

She said her motion would remove “any angst, any delays in flushing out conflicts of interest” and prevent ICAC investigations if councillors would fail to declare conflicts of interest.

Sydney’s most notorious developer councillor is Salim Mehajer, who was stood down as Auburn’s deputy mayor after failing to disclose financial interests in a building his company owned at Mary St, Auburn. He voted to increase floor space, which added $1 million to its value.

Former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer failed to declare pecuniary interests about his job as a developer. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Local Government NSW president Linda Scott said the matter would be determined at the annual conference on October 28 and 29, when hundreds of councillors from across NSW converge.

“As the peak body for all councils across NSW, Local Government NSW strongly supports transparency and accountability for all levels of government,’’ Ms Scott said.

“This matter was last considered at the 2017 annual conference and delegates voted not to support a ban.

“Cr Davis and Parramatta Council’s motion will lead the efforts to progress this debate at the next LGNSW Conference.”

A spokesman for Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock, who has opposed plans to block developers from government positions, said several measures were in place to tighten the rules governing councillor conflicts of interest.

He said they included the creation of disincentives against councillors misusing their civic office for their own personal benefit and requiring councillors to publicly disclose and manage their conflicts of interests.

“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that communities have confidence in the councillors they elect to represent them,’’ the spokesman said.

Asked whether banning developers was discriminatory, Cr Davis defended her stance.

“I believe where people are elected to be in a position — regardless of whether they’re in a city or a regional area — there has to be distancing and self assessment doesn’t cut it.’’

Parramatta Council will to write to Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Opposition leader Chris Minns and Mrs Hancock and opposition spokesman Greg Warren seeking commitment to support a general ban prohibiting developers on to the council.

The matter will be raised at the NSW Local Government Conference on October 28.

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