Philip Ruddock ousted as Hornsby mayor, points finger at ‘property developer interests’

Liberal Hornsby Mayor Philip Ruddock has accused property developers supported by “senior party members” of orchestrating his demise after he was ousted in a preselection vote on Monday evening.

In a statement provided exclusively to the Herald, Ruddock, 81, said his principled stance on protecting the “built and natural” environment in Hornsby during his seven-year tenure as mayor had ultimately cost him his job, saying his position was considered “unacceptable” to “property developer interests”.

Philip Ruddock has been ousted as mayor of Hornsby.Credit: Getty

“I have always advocated for appropriate development that respects the built and natural environment of the Shire of Hornsby and is in keeping with its amenity,” the former immigration minister said. “That has been seen as unacceptable by property developer interests, supported by some senior party members, in the Hornsby local government Liberal Party preselection.

“In recent months it became clear to me that I could choose to either allow developers free reign over the shire I have fought to protect, or to stand by my principles and face certain replacement as the Liberal Party candidate.”

The online preselection took place at 6pm on Monday, and councillor Warren Waddell emerged victorious with 164 votes to Ruddock’s 104.

As part of the Minns government’s sweeping housing reforms, Hornsby station has been included as a major transport development zone, which will see massive uplift in the area as thousands of new dwellings are built over the next 15 years. Public exhibition on the accelerated precinct will close on Wednesday.

Ruddock was a minister in the Howard government.Credit: Jacky Ghossein.

Ruddock said his decision to stand in the preselection in the face of near-certain defeat was an “example that politicians should not bow to vested interests” and should continue to fight “unwinnable battles” on behalf of their constituents.

After entering parliament in 1973 and going on to serve as a federal Liberal MP for 43 years, including as a minister in the Howard and Abbott governments, Ruddock was elected mayor of Hornsby Shire in 2017.

Ruddock paid tribute to his father, Max, for instilling in him a “great love of the Bushland Shire”, saying his tenure as mayor was built upon representing Hornsby’s concerns and sustainability, heritage and growth.

“A considered approach to the way Hornsby manages the balance between urban growth, its rural areas and its natural environment was the reason I re-entered politics and stood for mayor seven years ago. It was about giving back to my community, not about any self-interest or ego,” he said.

Ruddock said he hoped unfinished projects like Westleigh Park would be delivered in his absence. In June, the council threatened to sue the Minns government after it was ordered to repay $36 million obtained through a controversial Stronger Communities Fund grants program intended for the park proposal.

The end of Ruddock’s time as mayor will almost certainly bring to a close his 50-year career in politics, after he decided to step down as state president of the NSW Liberal Party after the federal election in 2022.

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