Canterbury-Bankstown councillor Barbara Coorey censured for second time over alleged conduct breaches

A Canterbury-Bankstown councillor has been censured for the second time in five months following an incident involving a Greek flag and a council staffer.

Canterbury-Bankstown councillor Barbara Coorey.

A Canterbury-Bankstown councillor has been censured for the second time in five months for further alleged conduct breaches.

Independent councillor Barbara Coorey was formally censured last Tuesday in a closed session of an ordinary council meeting.

It is understood the censure is in relation to an incident on March 21 between Cr Coorey and a Canterbury-Bankstown council staffer at the senior citizens centre in Earlwood during a Greek Independence Day celebration organised by council.

A council staff member was reportedly in charge of raising the Greek flag in the morning and lowering the Greek flag at sunset.

However, the staff member alleged Cr Coorey made a statement to the effect of: “the flag is to stay permanently flying and not to be removed, and I will be seeking to have it permanently flying”.

Canterbury-Bankstown councillor Barbara Coorey. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

The council resolved in a confidential meeting with only Labor councillors in attendance that Cr Coorey had breached a number of clauses including part three (General Conduct Obligations) and part seven (Relationship Between Council Officials) of Council’s Code of Conduct, under section 440G of the Local Government Act 1993.

The breaches included “conducting oneself in a manner that is improper or unethical” and “attempt to direct or influence any other member of the staff of the council in the exercise of the functions of the staff member”.

The council also resolved to refer the matter onto the Office of Local Government for further action.

Councillor Coorey did not wish to provide a comment.

At last Tuesday’s council meeting, Cr Coorey had a miniature Greek flag on her desk for the duration of the meeting.

This comes after the independent councillor was also censured in a March council meeting in relation to an incident on September 13 between Cr Coorey and the Canterbury-Bankstown general manager Matthew Stewart at an extraordinary council meeting last year, in which staffing issues following the 2016 amalgamation of Canterbury and Bankstown councils were discussed.

The council resolved Cr Coorey had breached a number of clauses – which included “conducting oneself in a manner that is improper or unethical” and “is an abuse of power or constitutes harassment or bullying behaviour”.

Canterbury-Bankstown Council was asked if it had been made aware of the breach and details of the alleged incident and breaches.

A spokeswoman said council was unable to comment and provide the report as it was classified as “confidential” under its Code of Conduct policy.

A spokesman for the Office of Local Government said the office does not comment on specific matters it may be investigating or reviewing.

“The conduct of councillors and any code of conduct issues should be managed by councils in the first instance,” the spokesman said.

“If a matter is referred to the Office of Local Government, it will examine the matter and council’s response to determine whether further investigation or action is warranted.”