Western Sydney mayors to attend Albanese’s Labor fundraiser

Western Sydney mayors will pay to attend the PM’s Labor fundraiser next month to speak with him about repatriating ISIS brides to their suburbs, after NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns admitted community leaders should have been consulted.

Western Sydney mayors have vowed to pay $1,500 to attend next month’s Labor fundraiser to confront Anthony Albanese over the resettlement of ISIS brides in their communities unless the Prime Minister agrees to meet with them about their concerns.

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone, Liverpool Ned Mannoun, and Campbelltown Mayor George Greiss told The Daily Telegraph that they would do “whatever it takes” to raise concerns of their communities with Mr Albanese after four women and 13 children from Syrian detention camps were repatriated to Western Sydney.

“If it takes $1,500 to attend his event just so we can put forward our community view, we are happy to pay it,” Mr Carbone said.

“If that’s what it takes to talk with him, then so be it,” Mr Mannoun said.

The mayors said they would prefer not to have to pay money to attend a Labor fundraiser to speak with the Prime Minister,but would do so as a last resort.

Mayors Ned Mannoun, Liverpool, Frank Carbone, Fairfield,

and Campbelltown Mayor George Greiss.

They said would be prepared to take community leaders with them to the Whitlam Anniversary Dinner in Warwick Farm on December 2, where a table of 10 is going for $1,500.

It can also be revealed that while community leaders wait for a briefing from Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil about the repatriations, Ms O’Neil has flown across the ditch for talks with her New Zealand counterpart.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will headline a Labor fundraiser in western Sydney. Picture: Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

Opposition Home Affairs spokeswoman Karen Andrews met with Mr Greiss on Wednesday, after previously meeting with Mr Carbone and Mr Mannoun.

“Local government leaders shouldn’t be ignored by ministers or the Prime Minister about important issues like this,” Ms Andrews told the Telegraph.

“The community is rightly expressing a concern and needs to hear from actual decision-makers.”

“If both the Home Affairs and Immigration Ministers knew they’d be in Sydney for the Home Affairs Summit – why didn’t theyreach out and organise meetings to hear community concerns?”

Coalition Home Affairs spokeswoman Karen Andrews, Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone, and Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun hold a meeting regarding repatriated ISIS brides., Photo: supplied.

It comes as Labor Leader Chris Minns acknowledged that his federal counterparts got it wrong in how they approached the repatriation.

Mr Minns defended the party fundraiser, but repeated his calls for the federal government to meet with community leaders about the issue.

“It’s important that those who are responsible for these decisions are able to speak with community leaders,” he said.

In his strongest criticism yet of the Albanese government’s silence on repatriating ISIS brides and their children to Western Sydney, Mr Minns said community leaders should have been consulted on the decision.

“I always believe that community leaders and those who are responsible in leadership positions should be consulted about decisions like this,” he said.

Mr Minns said community leaders should have been consulted on the decision. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed the PM will speak at a $150-per-head fundraiser in Warwick Farm next month to commemorate the 50 year anniversary of Gough Whitlam’s election win.

That angered Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone, who said that Mr Albanese should be prepared to address community concerns.

Mr Minns defended the fundraiser.

“I think fair minded people would appreciate that’s what political parties do,” he said.

Mr Albanese is listed as the keynote speaker for the Labor fundraiser, to be held at the Holiday Inn in Warwick Farm.

The hotel is on the border of the Fairfield and Liverpool council areas, where mayors Frank Carbone and Ned Mannoun have been highly critical of the government repatriating “ISIS sympathisers” with little consultation.

“If the Prime Minister is willing to come and take our money he should at the very least pay us the respect of coming to talk to our community,” Mr Carbone said.

“This is such an important issue for the community that he can afford to spend a little bit of time consulting with those that made him PM in the first place.”

“I’m sure that if Gough Whitlam was Prime Minister today, he would be talking to the community affected by this decision,” Mr Carbone said.

Anthony Albanese arrives in Bali for the G20 summit this week. Photo: AFP

The Liverpool mayor said the repatriation of women and children with links to ISIS would be the “elephant in the room” at the fundraising dinner.

“The most important issue (for this community) at this point in time is bringing ISIS sympathisers to live next door to ISIS victims,” Mr Mannoun said.

Mr Carbone and Mr Mannoun met with Opposition Home Affairs spokeswoman Karen Andrews on Tuesday to discuss the resettlement of ISIS brides and their children.

The mayors called for Ms Andrews to again push for the government to meet with community groups angered by the repatriation.

“Their biggest concerns were the lack of information they had been given, the lack of respect that they had been shown by federal Labor, and that their communities will be torn apart by these resettlements,” Ms Andrews told The Daily Telegraph.

Ms Andrews accused the government of putting up a “brick wall” to refugees who fled ISIS.

It comes a group of more than 20 community organisations wrote to Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil calling on the government to hold a forum to give refugees clarity about how ISIS brides will be reintegrated into Western Sydney.

That letter was forwarded by Fowler MP Dai Le – who represents the electorate in which the Gough Whitlam fundraiser will be held.

“It looks like the Prime Minister is prioritising raising funds over addressing the genuine fears in our refugee community,” Ms Le said.

Mr Albanese has so far failed to meet with community leaders over the repatriation of women and children from Syria. Photo: AFP

A spokesman for Ms O’Neil said she would meet with community leaders, but no meetings have yet been confirmed.

Mr Albanese’s spokeswoman said the request for a meeting had been received and would be considered “through the normal processes”.

It is understood that senior public servants have been in Western Sydney this week consulting with community leaders about the repatriation of women and children from Syria.

The Gough Whitlam dinner has been billed as a celebration of the 50 year anniversary since the former Prime Minister won office.

“To commemorate the occasion, Chris Bowen, Jason Clare and Anne Stanley are hosting a sit-down dinner, with a keynote address to be given by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.”

Tickets to the event cost $150 each or $1,500 for a table of 10.

The event is expected to be attended by hundreds of Labor faithful.

Originally published as Western Sydney mayors to attend Albanese’s Labor fundraiser