Nick Reece should be barred from Queen Victoria Market votes, trader says

Queen Victoria Market is at a critical moment in its history but, thanks to a campaign donation, the Lord Mayor may have lost his power to vote on it, a market trader and former councillor says.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece and three of his fellow councillors should not be able to vote on anything related to Queen Victoria Market, a market trader and former councillor says.

Mr Reece accepted a $2500 donation from Mark Scott, a stall owner who ran successfully for council on his ticket, as part of the nearly $1m he raised to become Lord Mayor.

Michael Caiafa, a market trader who briefly served on council in 2016 and had a failed tilt at election on the Team Wood ticket this year, said he was told not to vote on QVM matters by the governance team at the time.

The four councillors elected on the Team Reece ticket, including both the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell and Mr Scott, should follow suit, he said.

“I (was told I) had to excuse myself every time there was a vote,” Mr Caiafa, who runs the “Corner Bread” shop at the market, said.

‘The Corner Bread shop’ trader Michael Caiafa was elected to Melbourne City Council in October 2016. Picture: Supplied

“They made me sit out of any conversation that had to do with the QVM business, in all aspects of renewal or day-to-day business, I was excluded from everything, really.”

Asked if that would include discussions relating to development around the market, Mr Caiafa replied, “Yeah, I (was told) every time.”

“Nick (Reece) was part of Team Doyle back then and he was happy for me to be excluded.

“It’s a democratic process and if they’ve got a conflict, so be it, they shouldn’t accept donations from such parties.”

Mr Caiafa served a short stint as a councillor in 2016, before his term was ended after only a few months due to a recount triggered by the ineligibility of fellow councillor Brooke Wandin.

There was no wrongdoing on Mr Caiafa’s part.

The market is at a critical juncture in its history. Picture: Diego Fedele

The potential conflict brings into question Melbourne Council’s ability to properly govern the market.

If Mr Reece, Ms Campbell, Kevin Louey and Mr Scott are unable to vote, just seven of eleven councillors will make decisions relating to critical issues such as the $1.7bn high rise tower development by building giant Lendlease at the southern end of the market.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece declined to comment on the wisdom of accepting a donation from Mr Scott, merely saying he would declare his conflicts related to the market “as needed”.

Mr Reece declined to comment on the wisdom of accepting the donation from Mr Scott as part of his nearly $1m election war chest. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr Scott’s donation shines a further spotlight on conflicts of interest in local councils, after the revelations Mr Reece amassed more than $950,000 from unions, corporate interests and wealthy individuals during his successful election campaign.

Councillors were more or less left to themselves to decide and declare conflicts of interest, a City of Melbourne spokeswoman said.

“Each Councillor is responsible for determining and managing any conflict of interest as a result of a political donation,” she said.

“Councillors are responsible for declaring any conflict of interest and removing themselves from a meeting or a decision.”

“The Local Government Act and the Council Governance rules provide guidance should Council not be able to reach a quorum (minimum numbers to make a decision).”

Councillors have already voted on one matter related to the market since the October election, although the matter was a formality regarding the QVM annual report and no decisions were made.

No councillor abstained from that vote.