ICAC to look into Salim Mehajer in wake of Auburn council probe

A government report has found Salim Mehajer may have breached Local Government Act disclosure laws.

Former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer at his lavish wedding in Lidcombe which involved four helicopters, over 30 supercars, 50 motorbikes, a jet flyover and over 100m of red carpet. Picture: Toby Zerna

The actions of the nation’s most famous deputy mayor Salim ­Mehajer will be examined by the NSW corruption watchdog ­following a state government ­inquiry.

The NSW government has ­released a 234-page report into western Sydney’s Auburn council — where Mr Mehajer made headlines after his opulent wedding, while he was deputy mayor, enforced an improper road closure — and requested an investigation by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The report, which took six months, did not make any ­adverse findings but found Mehajer may have breached Local Government Act disclosure laws relating to the sale of council-owned property to a company ­associated with him.

Despite serious concerns over the fact several Auburn councillors were also property developers — who each made large windfalls due to council rezonings of their land — the state government made no recommendations for action against them.

Salim Mehajer the untouchable?

Former Auburn councillor Irene Simms, who blew the whistle over alleged improper activities at Auburn council, said she was “furious” that the state government had taken no action to prevent property developers from serving on local councils.

“This could have given the community faith that things are going to be better, but instead the state government has come forward and said it’s going to do nothing to stop it,” Ms Simms said.

Mr Mehajer made headlines over his August 2015 wedding, which involved an improper road closure, several helicopters, $50 million worth of super cars and a jet flyover.

Subsequent media investigations revealed Mr Mehajer’s companies had made millions of dollars over property “rezonings” in Auburn, where he was deputy mayor at the time.

NSW local government minister Gabrielle Upton tabled ­reports into three councils in the state yesterday — Auburn, North Sydney and Murray Shire — saying investigators found “petty ­rivalries, childish behaviour, and self-interest”.

“For a few it’s about them ­instead of what is in the community’s best interests,” Ms Upton said.

“Petty rivalries, unruly and childish behaviour in council meetings and shoddy practices must be banished from our councils forever,” she said.

She described Mr Mehajer’s opulent nuptials as the wedding that “killed the council’’.

Despite those comments, Ms Upton made no recommendations for change, or to prevent property developers from becoming local councillors.

“The government will consider the recommendations in greater detail,” she said.

“I also will provide these ­reports to the Independent Commission Against Corruption and other appropriate bodies.”

The opposition said it was ­appalled at the government’s lack of action over rogue councils.

“These rogues can run again and gain control of a new and bigger council, without any spending caps in place,” Opposition Leader Luke Foley said.

“This report ... is predictably and sadly weak.”