Lord Mayor Clover Moore joins Greens in celebrating former communist union leader Jack Mundey

SYDNEY Lord Mayor Clover Moore has joined with Greens senator Lee Rhiannon to host a tribute function for former union leader Jack Mundey.

Former union leader and prominent communist Jack Mundey. Picture: Mitch Cameron

SYDNEY Lord Mayor Clover Moore has joined with Greens senator Lee Rhiannon to host a tribute function for former union leader and prominent communist, Jack Mundey, marking 30 years since he served a single term on Sydney council from 1984-87.

Ms Moore is using council staff, resources and funds for the Town Hall event next week, which could be in contravention of internal policy forbidding spending on political activities.

An invitation to the event has been sent out with the council logo and by council staff for a morning tea at the Town Hall.

The council’s expenses policy notes: “Meetings which may be perceived to be of a political nature will not be approved for free use. Venue usage in those circumstances would be charged at the current community rate.”

The invitation to the November 21 morning tea is to commemorate a political event, asking people “to attend a morning tea celebrating the 30th anniversary of the community independents election to Sydney City Council and to thank Jack Mundey for his service”.

Ms Moore has long identified herself as a community independent in local council and state parliament.

Senator Rhiannon is co-sponsor of the event. Mr Mundey is a prominent Greens party member and actively supports its candid­ates and policies. He was a member of the Communist Party when he was elected to council.

Senator Rhiannon hails from a prominent Communist Party family and was once a member of the breakaway Socialist Party, which aligned itself with Moscow. However, the Socialist Party opposed Mr Mundey’s 1970s “green bans” to protect heritage buildings.

The event has prompted a sharp response from Meredith Burgmann, a former Labor councillor and President of the NSW Legislative Council.

“This is another example of Lee rewriting her own personal history, forgetting that she was a member of the party that opposed the green bans,” Ms Burgmann said.

“It is very weird for the Mayor to be hosting a function with a federal member of parliament from another party.”

A spokesman for Ms Moore ­defended the event when asked to respond to questions posed by The Australian.

“As a councillor, trade unionist and community leader Jack Mundey made an invaluable contrib­ution to protecting Sydney’s environment and heritage,” the spokesman said.

“His work helped preserve suburbs including Glebe, Woolloomooloo and The Rocks.

“The Lord Mayor hosts civic receptions to recognise people and organisations who have made valuable contributions to our city. All current City of Sydney councillors have been invited to this afternoon tea.

“Council approves a budget for the Lord Mayor to host such civic and ceremonial functions.”

Mr Mundey was NSW secretary of the Builders and Labour­ers Federation from 1968-75. During this period he placed “green bans” on historic buildings in inner-city suburbs to save them from demolition.

In 1974, Mr Mundey failed in a bid to be elected to the Senate, running as a Communist Party candidate.

He was formerly the national president of the Communist Party.