Parramatta councillor Ben Barrak’s Ronald McDonald defence for clowning about
A controversial western Sydney councillor says he meant no offence in calling a Lord Mayor a “clown” because “clowns are beautiful creatures who make people laugh”.
Parramatta
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A maverick Liberal councillor was tonight booted out of the ninth straight Parramatta Council meeting as he mounted the Ronald McDonald defence for calling the Lord Mayor a “clown”.
Ben Barrak was given his marching orders for yet again refusing to apologise to Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson for the “playful” dig at a meeting on February 20.
Cr Barrak said he didn’t believe the word clown was offensive.
“McDonald’s has got clowns, and clowns are beautiful creatures who make people laugh and they are the emblems of some corporates,” he said.
He believes his fellow councillors — including those in his party — have launched a “political witch hunt” against him because the matter is “not that serious”.
But asked whether he was bringing his party and council into disrepute, Cr Barrak said: “I am being a good Liberal, because the Liberal Party stands for transparency, and this is what I’m fighting for.”
After Cr Barrak was kicked out for an eighth time earlier this month, Labor councillor Pierre Esber said: “We can’t do this every second Monday because it’s getting to a point now where we’re being laughed at.
“This is quite embarrassing and humiliating.”
The Advertiser understands the Office of Local Government will be launching a code-of-conduct investigation into Cr Barrak, who says he would oppose it and produce explosive documents against council if called to appear before an inquiry.
Cr Barrak denied he was making council a laughing stock.
“I am advocating for the city of Parramatta and for my constituents to have transparency,” he said. “And I will always fight for transparency and for the betterment of this city, including maximising the returns of sales of our property.
“Just because it’s hidden in confidential … does not mean I’m going to pull my head in and just let things go.”
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