Judge rejects Salim Mehajer’s bid to have councillor ban lifted

Deputy Mayor of Sydney’s Auburn Council Salim Mehajer has failed in his attempt to temporarily lift his suspension as councillor.

The Deputy Mayor of Sydney’s Auburn Council, Salim Mehajer, has failed in his attempt to temporarily lift his suspension as councillor, having argued he was needed to provide constituents with advice on matters such as “tree removal” and “overgrown vegetation”.

Mr Mehajer is appealing in the NSW Supreme Court against a four-month ban from the council by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal after he voted on rezoning moves that delivered him a $1 million paper windfall without disclosing his interest.

Judge Peter Garling yesterday withheld his decision on whether the four-month suspension would stand, but rejected calls from Mr Mehajer’s lawyers that the suspension should be lifted ahead of that decision.

Mr Mehajer, who is facing legal battles on numerous fronts, was last week banned from the council following an investi­gation into his failure to disclose on three occasions his ownership of a commercial building at 3 Mary Street, Auburn, in Sydney’s west, despite voting in favour of changes that affected the property.

The council zoning changes did not relate to Mr Mehajer’s property specifically, but his property was within an area that was rezoned to allow development of taller buildings of greater density.

Under the law, councillors are required to make a disclosure if there are plans to make changes that would impact on the “permissible use” of any properties owned by councillors.

Regardless of Justice Garling’s decision, it is likely Auburn Council will be suspended mid-next week by NSW Local Government Minister Paul Toole.