Hills Shire, Parramatta Liberal councillors ousted after party refuses bids for independent run

The Liberal councillors will be forced to stand on the sidelines at council elections after the party refused requests to allow them to run, even as independents.

Popular Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne has been barred by the Liberal Party from running as a candidate in the upcoming local government elections – or even to be allowed to stand as an independent.

The Sydney mayor is one of dozens of rejected councillors in The Hills and Parramatta being refused special exemptions to run as independent candidates.

It comes as it was revealed members of the Liberal Party’s Local Government Oversite Committee, alongside the party’s State Executive, cherrypicked hard-right candidates for council elections next month.

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Last week, Cr Byrne told 2GB’s Ray Hadley she had applied for special dispensation to run as an independent against Liberal candidate Peter Gangemi.

However, NewsLocal can reveal Cr Byrne’s request was officially knocked back in a response from the part on November 2.

“It is with a heavy heart that today I announce that I won’t be contesting the upcoming Council elections as an independent Mayoral Candidate,” Cr Byrne said in a statement on Wednesday.

“It has not been an easy decision and one that I have wrestled with during the past few days with close friends, mentors and most importantly my family.

“To all of you I say thank you for your friendship, love and enthusiastic encouragement for me to run as an independent candidate. It is because of all of you that I seriously considered running as an unaligned Independent despite the obvious consequences.”

Cr Byrne said she knew her decision would come as a disappointment to many in The Hills: “and no doubt will cause even more anger at the way I and my fellow Councillors have been treated”.

Hills Shire councillors Brooke Collins, Alan Haselden and Mayor Michelle Byrne were all ousted from running on the council. Picture: Troy Snook

“I don’t agree with the process that has taken place within the Liberal Party or how we got here,” she said.

“I along with other Hills Shire councillors, weren’t given the chance to put our case to local party members — as has been the case with candidates in other council areas — nor were we granted dispensation to run as independents despite the party granting such dispensation to candidates in other council areas.

“I am saddened that my local government career has come to a halt for the moment in this way. There are many questions that remain unanswered that need to be answered. I have no doubt that what has happened in The Hills will continue to be scrutinised and so it should be.”

Cr Samuel Uno was also barred from running. (AAP Image/CRAIG WILSON)

Cr Elizabeth Russo was also barred from running.

The Liberal mayor said while she did not agree with the decision, she remains “committed to the Liberal Party having been a member for 17 years”.

“This is not the last time the community will see Michelle Byrne in public office,” she said.

“I intend to return bigger, better and fiercer than ever to fight for the community that I love so much.”

A Liberal Party source told NewsLocal several councillors in The Hills and Parramatta were declined requests for special dispensation — with the party dumping all sitting Liberal councillors from running on Parramatta council in the December 4 local government elections.

The head office, known as the state executive, has not endorsed Parramatta Liberal councillors Benjamin Barrak, Bob Dwyer, Martin Zaiter, Bill Tyrrell and Lord Mayor Steven Issa.

Former Parramatta Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer. Picture: Angelo Velardo

Cr Issa criticised the party for turning its back on the city.

“The Liberals choosing to sit this one out after investing $4 billion in Parramatta is unfortunate as we effectively have handed the council to the ALP and independents despite having control since 2008 when (my father) Tony Issa was the Liberal Lord Mayor,’’ he said.

“We’ve got a pool, a light rail, a Metro, a civic building and many others that the Liberal Party has stewarded through only to have a ribbon cut by the ALP.’’

Cr Issa, who was elected mayor in September, won’t run as an independent.

“I love the city and the party and I want to contribute to both,’’ he said.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Steven Issa will only get to serve the role for a few months. Picture: John Appleyard

However, Cr Tyrrell is running for Blacktown Council as an independent and Cr Dwyer — who slammed the council for being dysfunctional — has reversed a decision to quit and will run as an independent for the North Rocks ward behind Georgina Valjak, who is No.1 on the ticket.

The Liberals will still field candidates in Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Hills, Hornsby, Penrith, Lane Cove, Northern Beaches, Sutherland, Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra.

Liberal preselection is stopping in other local government areas including Bayside, Blacktown, Fairfield and Inner West councils.

A source who did not wish to be named said there was a “faction holding the party for ransom”.

“There’s people that are fighting within and they can’t come to an agreement.’’

The party spokesman declined to comment on specific councils but said: “Decisions on contesting local government elections are made by the NSW division’s elected State Executive, informed by discussions with local communities and members.’’

At Parramatta, Liberal branches voted against having a Local Government Conference, which is the group that then makes recommendations to the state executive and determines whether candidates are endorsed.

Originally published as Hills Shire, Parramatta Liberal councillors ousted after party refuses bids for independent run