Council empties community grants fund to send money to Lebanon

They raided a community grants fund to send $20k in response to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, now a Sydney council wants taxpayers to reimburse them.

A council that raided its community grants fund to send $20,000 to Lebanon now wants taxpayers to reimburse them after realising they left “zero” money for locals.

The request to the Minns government was made by Liverpool City Council after its councillors decided to make the donation in response to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

During a debate on the donation last year,

Councillor Richard Ammoun declared $20,000 “would mean quite a lot” to the people displaced as a result of the conflict.

Despite Cr Ammoun declaring he would prefer the funds to be taken out of general revenue so that the council could not be accused of taking “away from our children here in our community”, the councillors later agreed the $20,000 would come out of the community grants fund.

Liverpool councillors decided to make a donation in response to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

The Sunday Telegraph has since obtained a letter the council sent to Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, asking if the government could “reimburse” the council for the donation.

The letter, dated February 27, explained the “reallocation” of funds would “ensure” organisations in Liverpool would not be disadvantaged.

“I write to request the NSW government’s consideration in reimbursing the $20,000 grant that council has allocated to Lebanon,” the letter said.

“The reallocation of these funds back into our community grants budget would ensure that local organisations continue to benefit from vital financial support, enabling them to deliver essential programs and services that directly impact residents.”

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has been asked to “reimburse” the council for the donation. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Councillor Peter Ristevski, who had voted in favour of the donation, said councillors had been unaware at the time that the donation would result in “zero” being left in the council’s community grants fund.

“After I saw we had zero dollars in community grants, I moved my motion to seek the reimbursement,” he said.

“I don’t want our community to suffer from this and, rather than reversing the decision, I thought it would be worthwhile going to the state government.”

Liverpool Councillor Peter Ristevski said the money had “already been sent”.

Cr Ristevski, who declared it was no longer possible to reverse the decision as the money had “already been sent”, said he would find a way to replenish the fund in the event the Minns government refused to reimburse the council “even if it means I have to take $20,000 from the mayor’s festival”.

Liverpool MP Charishma Kaliyanda said while it was clear the councillors had the “best of intentions”, the fact the decision had left the community grants fund empty was of concern.

“It begs the question about what is going on in that place,” she said.

Mr Mookhey’s office declined to comment.

Originally published as Council empties community grants fund to send money to Lebanon