Former NSW MP Shayne Mallard lands plum gig at Liberal heavy Liverpool Council

An ex-Liberal NSW MP has landed a plum director gig at a southwest Sydney council, whose CEO is another former party MP, joining at least six other Lib-affiliated staff on council’s payroll.

Former NSW Liberal MLC Shayne Mallard. Picture: Damian Shaw

A southwest Sydney council has defended itself against accusations of “jobs for mates” after the appointment of a former Liberal MP to a plum director gig worth upwards of $200,000 a year, joining at least six other Liberal-affiliated staff – including the chief executive – on the payroll.

The appointment is now subject to preliminary inquiries by the state government, The Australian can reveal.

In August, former NSW Liberal MLC Shayne Mallard, who finished as an upper house MP after the state election in March, quietly landed the City Futures Director gig at Liverpool Council after previously being a senior adviser to the chief executive.

Liverpool Council’s chief executive is another former Liberal upper house member, ex-minister John Ajaka – who served until 2021 before himself landing the Liverpool role in 2022, reportedly worth $500,000 a year.

Sources with knowledge of the situation, but speaking on the condition of anonymity given they’re unauthorised to speak publicly, said Liverpool Council had become a “politicised organisation”.

Former NSW disability services minister John Ajaka is Liverpool Council’s chief executive.

“The pub test clearly hasn’t been applied here,” one source said.

Another described the council as “an employment service for Liberals”.

Mr Ajaka was one of three people on the hiring board that recruited Mr Mallard to council, where high-profile Liberal Ned Mannoun is in his second stint as mayor.

It comes as the Minns government is defending itself against accusations of “jobs for mates” after an inquiry into the appointment of new transport secretary Josh Murray, a former Labor staffer who donated to Minister Jo Haylen’s election campaign.

Mr Mallard’s appointment brings the total number of Liberal-affiliated senior council personnel to at least seven, with an array of ex-councillors and former advisers on the books.

Two former and current Liberal councillors – one previously of Liverpool and the other Sutherland – have senior positions: ex-councillor Tony Hadchiti is the Austral Delivery Co-ordinator and Haris Strangas a senior officer in the government relations space.

Harris Strangas, with his then boss John Ajaka, circled, when a NSW MP.

It is understood Mr Strangas is branch president of the Miranda and Cook Young Liberals, and used to work as a staffer for Mr Ajaka when in parliament.

Within council’s communications team, three staff were advisers to the Liberal Party or high-profile Liberal politicians, including for the state party, former NSW MLC Melinda Pavey and, further back, ex-leader John Brogden.

Mr Mallard’s recent appointment is now the subject of preliminary inquiries by the NSW Office of Local Government, at the request of Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig.

Under the local government act, the departmental chief has the power to make preliminary inquiries before deciding whether to exercise investigation powers.

NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig has asked the state department to make preliminary inquiries into the appointment. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Mr Ajaka, however, defended the hiring process and said it was a “full and open process, advertised extensively”.

“(It) was conducted independently by a specialist local government recruitment firm and there was a competitive field of candidates,” Mr Ajaka said, revealing the panel included himself and two external members.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing, and a preliminary inquiry by the department may be instigated with or without a complaint.

Mr Ajaka refuted the claim it was “jobs for mates”, saying Mr Mallard was successful for the role “based on his extensive experience and skills in government, both local and state, and corporate roles”.

“Council hires the best applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or political affiliation,” Mr Ajaka said.

He said he was responsible for hiring directors – and directors then responsible for hiring managers and other staff – and all senior role openings were conducted by a local government firm.