A reform should be made in New South Wales so that MPs cannot also be local government Mayors or Councillors.
This reform would improve NSW political culture and should be implemented by Political Parties if not the Parliament. The reform would also bring NSW in line with Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia.
It’s common for NSW Councillors to be elected to Parliament and to remain on Council at least until the next Council election.
However, there are likely to be conflicts of interest between the roles of an MP and a Mayor/Councillor, and it’s difficult to see how an MP can do the job of Mayor or Councillor given the time required for both. The statutory roles of NSW Mayors and Councillors are detailed at the end of this post.
One of the key roles of a Councillor is to “represent the interests of the residents and ratepayers” – and doing this properly may lead to Councillors speaking up against State (and Federal) Governments.
However, a State (or Federal) MP will act with a view to their state (or federal) political interest. This leads to a conflict of interest, unless the interests of residents and the MP coincide.
Additionally, different levels of government provide alternative routes for complaints to be made about government issues. MPs provide a route for complaints about the conduct of a Council, and vice versa. However, a Council is less likely to deal with a complaint about the local MP if that MP is the Mayor.
The importance of conflicts of interest was demonstrated recently in Victoria, where the Ombudsman issued a report recommending legislative changes to prevent Councillors to simultaneously be employees of MPs due to the clear conflict of interest. There may be scope to make similar changes in NSW. The Ombudsman recommended:
Next steps
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33. I have made a number of recommendations, including:
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- the Local Government Act be amended to prohibit elected councillors from being employed by Federal and State Members of Parliament during their term on council
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A summary of the reasons for the recommendations is included at the end of this post.
There are a number of current NSW MPs who are also Mayors:
- Clover Moore (Ind) – Lord Mayor of City of Sydney (since 2004), (previously South Sydney Councillor 1980-1984, City of Sydney Councillor 1984-87), MP for Bligh 1988-2007, MP for Sydney 2007-
- Greg Piper (Ind) – Mayor of Lake Macquarie (since 2004) and Councillor (since 1991), MP for Lake Macquarie 2007-
- Nick Lalich (ALP) – Mayor of Fairfield, MP for Cabramatta Oct 2008-
- Robert Furolo (ALP) – Mayor of Canterbury (since 2004) and Councillor (since 1999), MP for Lakema Oct 2008-
In addition to these, a quick (non-exhaustive) search shows that a number of current MPs were also Councillors for some time after they were elected to State Parliament:
- Verity Firth (ALP) – Councillor City of Sydney (2004-08), MP for Balmain 2007-
- Virginia Judge (ALP) – Mayor of Strathfield (2001-03) and Councillor 1995-2004, MP for Strathfield 2003-
- Penny Sharpe (ALP) – Marrickville Councillor (2004-08), MLC since Oct 2005
- Paul Pearce (ALP) – Mayor of Waverley (1997-2004) and Councillor (1983-2004), MP for Coogee 2003-
- Sylvia Hale (Greens) –Marrickville Councillor (1995-2004), MLC since 2003
This overlap in membership occurs partly as Local Council elections are held about 18 months after a State election. It’s not uncommon for a newly-elected MP to continue to be a Councillor for 18 months until the next local government elections. However, it’s entirely possible for newly-elected MPs to resign from Council. There is nothing wrong with holding a by-election and by-elections should be held to allow residents and ratepayers to be properly represented in their Council.
Summary of reasons for the Ombudsman’s recommendations
The summary of the reasons for the Ombudsman’s recommendation were:
Influence of unelected persons
7. It became evident early in my investigation that the operation and governance of the council was influenced by individuals who held no elected local government office, including individuals who would be, or were in the past, precluded from holding office because of criminal convictions. Such individuals have not taken an oath of office to act in the best interests of the community serviced by the council and are not subject to the conduct rules of the Local Government Act. Their influence was exerted behind closed doors and at times for their own personal or political motivations.
8. Where undue influence is exerted it can impede councillors’ ability to make objective and independent decisions in the interests of their community. Where councillors allow such influence to be exercised over them, they place themselves at risk of not being able to exercise their functions in accordance with their statutory obligations.
9. Decisions about Keilor Lodge Reserve and the Sydenham Park Soccer Club were significantly influenced behind the scenes by individuals who held no elected local government office.
10. If this culture at Brimbank persists, there is a risk that those charged with the responsibility of representing Brimbank will make decisions based on factional or political alliances, and not in the best interests of the community.
Conflict of interest
12. My investigation also highlighted that conflict of interest continues to be an issue pervading local government. I concluded that members of the ‘ruling faction’ failed to identify and address conflicts between their public duties and private interests. However, the broader issue of conflict of interest was not solely confined to the ‘ruling faction’.
13. While some of the problems related to conflict of interest resulted from a lack of understanding of conflict of interest principles, others reflected deliberate misconduct on the part of the councillors involved. This included placing their private interests first and using their positions to obtain confidential information.
14. My investigation also identified concerns with councillors working in the offices of Members of Parliament. In my view, this creates a clear conflict of ‘duty’ and ‘duty’. I identified two instances where a councillor’s duty to a Member of Parliament impacted upon the performance of the councillor’s public functions.
15. I was concerned that some individuals failed to recognise the broader ethical obligations of public officers to avoid conflicts of interest, preferring instead to rely on a narrow interpretation of conflict of interest and limited legislative provisions.
Statutory roles of Mayors and Councillors
The statutory roles of Mayors and Councillors are stated in sections 226 and 232 of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW):
226 What is the role of the mayor?
The role of the mayor is:
- to exercise, in cases of necessity, the policy-making functions of the governing body of the council between meetings of the council
- to exercise such other functions of the council as the council determines
- to preside at meetings of the council
- to carry out the civic and ceremonial functions of the mayoral office
232 What is the role of a councillor?
(1) The role of a councillor is, as a member of the governing body of the council:
- to direct and control the affairs of the council in accordance with this Act
- to participate in the optimum allocation of the council’s resources for the benefit of the area
- to play a key role in the creation and review of the council’s policies and objectives and criteria relating to the exercise of the council’s regulatory functions
- to review the performance of the council and its delivery of services, and the management plans and revenue policies of the council.
(2) The role of a councillor is, as an elected person:
- to represent the interests of the residents and ratepayers
- to provide leadership and guidance to the community
June 1, 2009 at 9:13 pm
A case in point is the nullifying of Clover Moore’s ability – as State member – to act as an effective advocate for her electors in relation to development before Sydney City Council. A check of her website revealed plenty of pre-2004 correspondence with Council, which (not surprisingly) has completely dried up from 2004, when Clover was elected Mayor.
June 4, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on your post regarding Councillors/Mayors being elected to Parliament and your suggestion for Legislative reform to prevent this.
As indicated in your post, I was elected to Council in 1999, and then elected Mayor in 2004. I was re-elected to the position of Mayor (with an increased vote) in 2008.
I feel genuinely privileged to be the Mayor and take my role and responsibility very seriously. I am conscious of the need to improve the governance structures of Council and ensure transparency and accountability in the decision making process.
One of the reforms I introduced at my Council relates to the assessment of contentious Development Applications. I championed and was successful in introducing an Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel to make professional and independent recommnedations to Council on DAs. This reform has signficantly reduced the politicisation of the DA process and given proponents and objectors a much clearer sense of merit-based decision making and transparency.
A month after being re-elected as Mayor, the local Member and former Premier resigned from Parliament. I was nominated and contested the seat and was elected. The result did see a drop in the margin for the seat, but with a two-party result of over 70%, I can only assume the vast majority of residents were comfortable with me being both Mayor and Member of Parliament.
Of course the two roles both have significant time committments, and this is certainly challenging. But if I’m busy because I have the chance to represent my community (the State Seat largely overlaps with the Council area) then I’m more than happy to make that sacrifice.
While you’re correct that the potential for conflict arises in the two roles, there are probably more synergies than conflicts. If the conflicts (when/if they arise) can be managed, then maybe the synergies can deliver real improvements in the quality of life for local residents.
There is no level of government that affords its elected representatives a better understanding of the day-to-day needs of a community than local government. And by being Mayor, I have a strong connection with and understanding of the needs of my community. As Member of Parliament, I also have the opportunity to lobby strongly for these needs and deliver for residents.
There are many positions where potential conflicts of interest arise. Conflicts arise in the corporate world, political sphere and even in the day to day family life of most people. The challenge is to manage these conflicts in an open and transparent way, not to withdraw from all situations where potential conflicts arise.
You are correct that people use their MP as a recourse to their Council if they feel they are not getting dealt with properly. As Member of Parliament, I have had constituents visit my office to make complaints about the Council. As an elected representative (regardless of which sphere of government), I want to address and satisfy the needs and expectations of my constituents. So it is in my interests to listen to their complaints and work to find solutions. Complaints received through my Electorate Office are like a ‘Quality Assurance’ system for me, and provide me with an understanding of issues that may otherwise not come to my attention.
As a Mayor, there are from time to time, issues that arise where Council is required to take a position at odds with the State Government. Whether it’s road funding, or funding for local services, or changes to planning law, if residents of my community are adversly affected, I will gladly take up the issue both as Mayor and Member of Parliament.
There is nothing in the Statutory role of the Mayor (as outlined above) that is unable to be discharged merely because a Mayor is also a Member of Parliament.
I understand the points you have made and agree that the balance of roles is challenging. But the benefits are real and the potential for conflicts can be managed.
June 5, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Rob, thanks for your considered comments. I’m glad that a person who is undertaking the roles of an MP and a Mayor commented on my post.
It’s interesting to hear that you championed an IHAP, as they sound to be potentially very useful bodies.
June 12, 2009 at 3:44 pm
A reform should be made in New South Wales so that MPs cannot also be local government Mayors or Councillors. (NO I DO NOT THINK SO)
This reform would improve NSW political culture and should be implemented by Political Parties if not the Parliament. The reform would also bring NSW in line with Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. (WE ARE IN NSW, WHY SHOULD WE COPY THEM? LET US JUST KEEP NSW UNIQUELY DIFFERENT FROM THEM.
It’s common for NSW Councillors to be elected to Parliament and to remain on Council at least until the next Council election. NOT IN CANTERBURY. OUR 156 VOICES UNITED TO ONE POWERFUL VOICE,DIFINITELY OUR DECISION TO WHO WE WANT TO BE OUR MAYOR AND OUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. IF YOU RECALLED IN LAST YEAR’S ELECTION A LOT OF COUNCILS LOST THEIR MAYORS TO NEW CANDIDATES. FOR CANTERBURY WE STOOD WITH OUR MAYOR AND YOU KNOW WHY WE WANT TO KEEP A GOOD THING GOING. OUR MAYOR IS THE BEST MAN FOR THE MAYOR’S JOB. NO OUTSIDERS WILL CHANGE THAT, WE WILL NOT LET THAT HAPPEN. IT IS A BONUS FOR US TO HAVE OUR MAYOR BE OUR MEMBER PARLIAMENT, WHAT MORE DO WE WANT? WE ARE EXCITED AND VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. ROBERT WILL BE THERE FOR A LONG TIME. YOU KNOW WHY HE DELIVERS AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. HE IS THERE FOR HIS COMMUNITY. THAT IS ALL WE NEEDED SOMEONE WHO CARES AND GETS RESULT FOR HIS COMMUNITY. HIS ACTION IS MUCH LOUDER THAN ANYTHING COMES HIS WAY
June 14, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Thanks Anne,
Your comment raises the point that electors should be free to choose whether a person is able to both be a Councillor/Mayor and an MP.
This is a strong liberal point, and I agree with it in principle. However, the conflicts between the roles are strong enough to my mind that it is an area in which the state should intervene to prevent a person undertaking both roles.
There is a parallel in that a person cannot be both a state MP and a federal MP – and this situation is widely accepted. Interestingly, people can be both UK MPs and UK Members of the European Parliament, and that is seen to be reasonable. (I don’t know whether a UK Councillor can also be an MP.)
June 14, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Thank you Sacha for your understanding on how I felt on the topic:
However, the conflicts between the roles are strong enough to my mind that it is an area in which the state should intervene to prevent a person undertaking BOTH ROLES:
To me, the role of the mayor are more connected to his/her community in his many roles. The State and Federal Members are, but not as connected to the Community as the Mayor. The State and Federal Members connection are VIA the Mayor. The BONUS OF BEING A MAYOR AND THE STATE or Federal MEMBERs ARE: The Mayor understand every local issues and needs of his local people through his dealing with them almost every day. He can take all those issues to the State/Federal Government like Robert Furolo does.
e.g. The relationship of doctors and their patients, do doctors go via someone else, no: If they were, they will create lots of problems, time, documentation and will create complicated activities.
Like I said previously and you have said that electors should be free to choose whether a person is able to both be a Councillor/Mayor and an MP.
Yes!!I am sure the local people will know very well if their mayor be the best to be their member of Parliament. They will vote for their best person regardless.
Any way! YOU did made my day!
I want to share with you that I was invited to do a talk in one of the Catholic Primary school. One year 6 little boy said, Can I ask you a question. I said yes! he said how come where you are you have homework once or twice a week. I wish we have one like yours in my area. Can you come with your group and do one in our local area? My mum and Dad cannot take me to where yours are. We have no car.
I told the little boy and the audience that my local school, children, parents and others requested our help. We then approached our Canterbury Council to help us, Canterbury Council provided the Venue, support and sponsor our homework and other projects.
I can approach your local Council for next year. Not only that we have to have teachers, University Students and people to run the project.
The little boy put his hand up again and said. If it will not happen and cannot be done, then I will ask my mum and Dad can we move to Canterbury so he can attend the homework support. He said the Boss of Canterbury must be a good person to give our Pacific Islanders these opportunities.
I was moved, this little boy heard from his cousins that lives in Greystanes about the homework support. It helped them to boost their chance to go to University, better marks, discover their talents, open up, appreciated their strengths, enjoyed team work, discipline and many more.
These youths attended our homework support, group counselling, forums, Community awareness, information and health talk and any requested issues raised by the children and parents from primary to year 12. Some of these children and parents just needed encouragement on their strengths and just to reassess their weaknesses.
I realised that if this little boy is so proud and wanted to move to Canterbury from Parramatta, I sees myself very lucky to be a citizen of Canterbury. If we made a difference to others and this little boy!
VOW! that is how I felt AND sure my community ACROSS Canterbury felt about ROBERT FUROLO. He made so much difference to his community locally and beyond.
Thanks for your REPLY
June 16, 2009 at 11:28 am
My politics are on the green side – and I’m someone who believes we’ve been ill-served by the two major parties in recent decades on a wide range of issues. The most effective members of parliament I’ve ever seen have actually been independents. Clover Moore is one of them; John Hatton and Ted Mack were others.
The NSW system allows for migration from local government to State Parliament in a way which, I believe, gives talented independents a real chance of turning hard-earned local government respect into a seat in Parliament.
That’s a much better system, IMO, to the Queensland situation, which works well for the major parties but has the effect of squeezing out independents.
The conflict of interest issues which you raise, while they may have some basis, seem trivial to me compared with the great advantage of better facilitating a politician’s rise from grass roots politics to State Parliament.
June 19, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Sydwalker, the difference between the NSW and Qld systems is that in NSW a person can remain a councillor once they are elected to state Parliament, while in Qld a person loses their position of Councillor once they are either elected or become a candidate for councillor.
The Qld system allows migration from local government to state parliament in almost precisely the same way as does NSW. Liz Cunningham, the conservative independent MP for Gladstone since 1995, was previously Mayor (or Chair) of Calliope Shire Council. She held the balance of power between 1996 and 1998.
Victoria appears to have the same system as NSW, but there have been very few independent MPs as there have been in NSW.
I suspect that situation in NSW that some ind Councillors are elected MPs than in Qld may have more to do with the fact that local councils, and wards, are generally much smaller in NSW than in Qld – meaning that the politics is more likely to be non-party political. Certainly it’s party political in the Brisbane City Council – but each BCC ward is about the size of a state electorate, and the election is over the whole council area (in that there’s an election for Lord Mayor).
Much smaller wards and councils means that independent councillors can gain profile and have a chance at a state election. In addition, many seats are generally considered safe – and it seems to be more likely that independents would get elected in “safe” seats as they are attractive to the minority party voters in that seat in addition to a slice of the voters for the majority party – this could explain how Ted Mack and Robyn Read were elected from North Sydney and how Clover Moore was elected in Bligh in 1988 (generally a then-Liberal seat). Very rarely do you get independents winning marginal seats.
June 20, 2009 at 1:32 am
Thanks.
I presume you mean that… “in Qld a person loses their position of Councillor once they… become a candidate for Parliament.”?
If so, it is precisely the discouragement to migrate from local to State politics in Qld that I had in mind.
If not, perhaps you could clarify the distinction for me again…
June 21, 2009 at 1:37 pm
A Councillor ceases to be a Councillor once they become a candidate for the Qld Parliament under Section 224A of the Qld Local Government Act. I understand that a similar provision may be included in the upcoming Local Government Act.
I also understand that the inability for a person to both be a Councillor and a Qld MP was introduced in the early 1990s. Prior to then, there were very few Independent MPs in the Qld Parliament – a previous National Party MP was elected as an Independent in Callide in 1983, and Tom Aiken had been an independent MP in Townsville for many years.
I think that a person shouldn’t be both a Councillor and an MP – there’s no need for a Councillor to lose their position on Council just because they become a candidate for state Parliament. The legislation could simply provide that a person who is a Councillor loses their position of Councillor if they become a member of state parliament.
The situation in Qld that a Councillor loses their position of Councillor if they become a candidate for State Parliament may bt a bit of a barrier to Councillors running for State Parliament as there’s no guarantee they’ll retain their position on Council if they are unsuccessful in their election to State Parliament. However, they would have a good chance of being re-elected to Council in the ensuring by-election.
If the Qld legislation acts to make it harder for Independent Councillors being elected as MPs, then it’s probably that part of it stating that they lose their Councillor position when they become a candidate for state parliament, not that they cannot both be a Councillor and a state MP. The solution then is fairly simple – allow Councillors to retain their positions unless they are actually elected as MPs.
June 22, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Scha, you wrote:
“The legislation could simply provide that a person who is a Councillor loses their position of Councillor if they become a member of state parliament.”
That’s the change I’d like to see in Queensland. It would have the significant benefit of making a transition from local to State politics much easier for popular candidates without major party support.
The current situation, IMO, is unjustifiable.
June 22, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I can see no reason that someone should lose their position of Councillor just for becoming a candidate for state parliament, apart from the potential conflicts of interest. The current legislation does not seem a proportionate response to this potential problem.
The Hansard debates surrounding the introduction of the current provisions may or may not be helpful in understanding the rationale behind them.
June 22, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I came across your article becaue I was searching up references about this situation – which appears to me wholly unjustifiable – within Queensland. It’s ironic that the most informed comment I found was arguing a somehwat different case in relation to NSW.
I don’t disagree that people who serve as both Councillors and MPs face a potential conflict of interest (although personally, if I had the chance to have Clover Moore as my MP and Mayor, I’d probably grab it).
I do, however, believe the situation in Queensland is a more serious impediment to good governance. It squeees out independents by denying them a political career path that’s not fraught with disadvantage.
June 27, 2009 at 8:36 am
Hallo Sydwalker,
I don’t disagree that people who serve as both Councillors and MPs face a potential conflict of interest (although personally, if I had the chance to have Clover Moore as my MP and Mayor, I’d probably grab it).
I Welcome and fully supported your comment on Clover Moore. How I wish there are hundreds of her kind in Parliament. It is a pity that she does not belong to any major political party to be our next Prime Minister.
I think you should run for Parliament yourself. You got the right passion and anyone with those ambitions and drives similar to Clover Moore will go a long way.
In attending a conference in December 2008 and watching Clover Moore on television almost every time she is on the APAC chanel is unbelievable.
The conference I attended I did put forward one of my community senior citizens’ concern and were taken away with her. I am ever so proud that concern was submitted and addressed by Clover Moore in the senate and passed. This made a huge difference not only to my community but to all Australian senior citizens.
Since that day a special interest on what she does. Every time she appears on the APAC chanel 607 or newspapers I always stuck in to it, like I say an education from someone who is working tirelessly to her community is worth every second.
I am thrilled to admit that I am hooked to SACHA’S site too. I gained knowledge and I can be able to put in my opinion and can be reassess by specialist where I can add additional knowledge to my roles with my community.
Anything that brings any community issues forward will open my ears and eyes so wide. Her tremendous concern to make a difference to the Community is widely acknowledge by all. What an amazing person she is.
In my local area Robert Furolo is the Mayor and also our Member of Parliament. You know what? he is similar to Clover Moore in many ways.
The last election was tough to every electorate but we stood by Robert Furolo and supported him and he ended up with flying colours, obviously he is doing exactly what Clover Moore is doing.
As a Resident of Canterbury I am so proud to live in the area with his ever committed and connected to our community’s needs. What he does speaks for who he is.
July 25, 2009 at 6:59 am
Could Mr Robert Furolo explain why Mr Mallone remains waiting on the answers to his questions that he raised to Mr Furolo on Aug 21st 2008 that he acknowledged he would address?
Could Mr Robert Furolo explain why the NSW Ombudsman has given notice to Mayor Robert Furolo?
Is the answer: 1.maladministration 2.a Mayor who has been unable to perform his duties or 3.simply a Mayor who is not there for the community that he states he is there for.
On the 23rd June 2009 notice was given to Mr Robert Furolo Mayor. It states…
Pursuant to section 13 of the Ombudsman 1974, I have decided to conduct an investigation into the following conduct of CANTERBURY CITY COUNCIL:
All of its actions and inactions which were part of any process used by the Council when:
* Handling and investigation of complaints from Mr Mark Mallone on behalf of his mother Mrs Magda Mallone of 12 Osroy Avenue Earlwood.
* Handling of communications from the strata managers and body corporate of Strata Plan 4085, 78 Undercliffe Road Earlwood regarding geotechnical report and issues of safety of the cliff face at 12 Osroy Avenue Earlwood and 78 Undercliffe Road Earlwood.
* Investigating the issues of safety of the cliff face at 12 Osroy Ave Earlwood and 78 Undercliffe Road Earlwood.
The public authorities the subject of the investigation are:
* CANTERBURY CITY COUNCIL
* Such PERSONS who may have been involved with the above conduct and whose identity has yet to be determined.
July 27, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Individual issues such as Mark Mallone’s are not the focus of this post, although it may relate to the post as a potential example of a conflict of interest between an individual holding a role of Mayor and MP.
August 4, 2009 at 10:00 am
Sacha,
The intention of posting my issue was not to change the focus of the main post. It was posted to show you, your readers and Anne specifically, an example of a possible conflict of interest that occurred here.
This was a similiar post to that of Anne’s where she praises the man by highlighting one or two positive actions taken by the man. The role of a Mayor is clear at the decisions taken in that role should not be clouded by their personal agenda as a Member of Parliament.
This example also shows the capability of these conflicts of interest replicated onto others. In this example MP Linda Burney (Member for Canterbury) and MP Paul Lynch (the then Minister for Local Government) and that is in addition to the many Councillors that were aware of the issues relating to this investigation. Not one of them performed their duty. Why?
When Canterbury City Council is described as the Chamber of Secrets in Parliament and MP Robert Furolo is the Mayor of this chamber, then the debate of whether an MP should continue to stand for either a Councillor or Mayor also becomes even stronger and a further indication that intervention is in fact required.
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/committee.nsf/0/a5729b2bb95e4399ca2574e7007f29b4/$FILE/081014%20Local%20Government%20HIGHLIGHTED.pdf
August 9, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Thanks Mark – yes that makes sense.
August 16, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Hallo Mark!
Thank you for your concern and your comment. I respect and appreciated what you have raised. I am a person that work with others to support my minority community who represented 55% of youths in Juveniles and Jails in NSW.
I hope you understand my situation. I will touch lightly of our programs so you can understand where I am coming from. I am part of a grassroots professionals and our work are to strengthen, support, advocate and empower our youths to reduce bad choices that ended them in juveniles and jails.
My community needed education in all levels. Our programs is growing and growing, from homework supports, school support, community support, jail visit, counselling in all levels and many more. Our community honestly cannot delivered our programs without Canterbury Council’s support. They provided the venues and fund our programs for the last 3 years.
My community are thankful for this opportunity from children at Primary, secondly, tertiary, and even those who are looking for work. We, not only work across Canterbury but beyond to Catholic University and Schools across Strathfield, Auburn, Ashfield, Marrickville, Lidcombe, Granville, Greystanes and beyond. Some of the students and their parents from these areas come to our homework classes held at Lakemba Senior Centre. Anyone who wishes to take the opportunity are welcome even the emerging multicultural communities.
In 2005 Schools, authorities and professionals who have dealt with our community approached our CEO an ex Director of Education who worked with Catholic Universities, schools to seek help with our community. We have made some huge differences, a lot more young people goes to University, some almost get their degrees and some already got theirs and are helping others to produce good HSC MARKS, some are now top football players,good musicians, athletics, good jobs, and now less going to jails, happy parents, happy community.
This week I got very bad news. My niece Jenny Moala the pilot who dies in that horrific flight at Papua New Guinea and hopefully her father, 6 children, myself and many family members will go to Papua New Guinea for her funeral next Wednesday the 19th.
Funnily as I am grieving I thought to visit Sacha site hoping to find some educational comments to ease my grief. Thank you for your comment Mark I will take that as an extra learning because I am still learning.
Thank you Sacha! I always enjoy your site and as I mention earlier it is not only educational but it is enjoyable and knowledgeable.
Yesterday the 15th of August was our Haldon Street Festival turns 10 years. There were more than 25,000 people were there to celebrate the special occasion.
Across Canterbury the 156 Voices become 1 powerful voice. You know what! Sacha and Mark it is an enormous challenge working with the many voices. I strongly believe in implementing strategies and policies to make it better and will meet the community needs in all levels.
It started with Preschool…Primary, Secondly and Tertiary, the whole spectrum until they are safely secured at workplaces.
To me anyone for Educational opportunities at all levels for all I will support and be very proud of. That is why I say thanks to the hard work of Canterbury Council incorporating with the whole community taking the emerging community like mine to the next level. My community are so proud of any opportunity that come our way.
There were 90 stalls, also fashion and two stages jam-packed with live performances for the entire community. We had so much fun! The children, parents, senior citizens and the whole community. I was part of the Holy Spirit College, my community and Multicultural communities across Canterbury.
Our community street parade starts the festival with local schools and community groups and the whole community, as well as camels, musicians, vintage cars and Harley Davidson motorbikes and many many others. It was fun for all. There were also free carnival rides for kids and teens! Without the sponsor, great work and support of Canterbury Council it would be impossible to CELEBRATE *RESPECT, UNITY AND PEACE* Not only once, twice, but many many times of this similar event on Community Celebration throughout the year.
It is so funny that what goes on the other 2 level of Government it does not matter to us local people. We are happy with our local Council. Still it come down to the local Community it is who cares for them and who look after their needs and listen to their cries, here, there and everywhere.
I am not representing anybody I represent myself and when vote day come the Community knows best who to vote for. It may seems to others that I talk highly of Robert, NO! NO! NO! I talk highly on his actions and the service he provides to his community and I am very proud of what he does. That is all I am about nothing more.
I know how he cares and spend time talking to anyone who wanted to talk to him in any issues. That is why I supported Robert! I also supported 3 other people that change my life and others like Mr Whitlam, Morris Iemma and Karl Saleh. These people have made differences to my community and others and they are real and alive in the community. Some of our youths will never forget Morris Iemma, he did made a difference to their lives in many different ways.
My community is only a minority across Canterbury, still Robert have time for us,I do not have to encourage anyone I do not need to, they all know what he did to them, their issues put infront of him and he sit down and talk it through with them to find a solution.
To be honest with you readers I do not give sugars about reporters, they report to suit themselves, increase their popularity, to what the community wanted to hear. We all have bad experiences with them not once, not twice but many times. I do not blame them it is their job and they are doing a good job. They are there as great story tellers, the more their stories sounds interesting the more pay they are rewarded in my own opinion and not of others and if not who knows what they are worth. Let’s not forget that they are there to make up stories.
Thank you Mark and to you too Sacha
August 17, 2009 at 8:10 am
Hallo Mark,
I have spent some hours reading other sources regarding your concern and I respected and felt your concern.
I will comment on the Canterbury Bankstown Express story related to the http://express.whereilive.com.au/news/story/call-for-investigation-into-...
Actually I emailed to the Express responding to their story and up to today I have not event receive any comment or acknowledge my email from them or event seen what I wrote on their paper. As I mentioned earlier Media only interested in interesting stories and I think they were not interested in my email because they realised that there should be two sides to every stories. They chose to ignore my facts. What I did was not a conflict of interest, no I am speaking out to what I know exactly how I see it. I am a resident of Canterbury and I know and cannot sit there and pretend that I agree with people’s story that I know that were not accurate. The truth always hurt, but in the long run it will bring prosperity.
Yes! to my understanding it was all political from another major party people trying to highlight and big note themselves thinking that they will win the Mayor and State election.
Well it did not worked they were crushed and that is politic.
As we have seen on TV, newspapers on air the opposition always try to bring Labor down, they forgot that Labor is in power, Labor is the government. They can say whatever they wanted to say and sometimes they acted like kids who needed some special training on how to talk as responsible MP representing their community instead of acting like kids as bullies.
The opposition had their chances and they let the people down and in return the people show them the door and say goodbye to them.
How I wish people can accept that Labor is the government and across Canterbury we have a Labor Mayor, State and Federal members. So it come down the community trusted those people end of the story.
In my culture that anyone who is talked about and stripped to pieces is because that person is better or is popular and people will waste their time on that person. People will not waste their time on others who they think that are not worth talking about. That is human nature and like anything in life the majority speak much louder than the minority.
August 19, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Anne,
The Mayor and MP Robert Furolo is exactly that, a Mayor and an MP. He is getting paid to be a Member of Parliament for the Lakemba electorate and he is also paid to be the Mayor of Canterbury. To solely say that because he is supporting your community Anne, he and Council are perfect and doing the job they are paid to do is rather selfish to be frank.
The NSW Ombudsman Anne, is investigating the conduct of Canterbury City Council and all those people involved for a reason. The Ombudsman conducted a preliminary investigation and it came to the conclusion that a formal investigation was required. It came to that conclusion for a reason Anne.
If you truly believe in the honesty of Canterbury City Council and Mayor Robert Furolo then please write to the General Manager Mr Jim Montague and also to Mayor Robert Furolo and ask them to send you copies of every correspondence they have received and sent from the Mallones and her neighbours. Ask Mayor Robert Furolo to provide the list of questions he received from Mr Mallone over one year ago that Furolo said he would answer but yes that’s right, one year on Mr Mallone is still waiting on not only the reply but also the apology he owes Mrs Mallone.
Mrs Mallone is now 82 years old, Anne. She was dragged into the Supreme Court by her neighbour because Council and the Mayor did not do their job they are paid to do. Mrs Mallone now has a debt of near $250,000 because they, not her did not do what the community expects them to do. Ask the Mayor why did he allow the General Manager to lie about Mrs Mallone to coverup Councils including the Mayors inability to do their job Anne.
Mayor Robert Furolo, the GM Jim Montague, the MP Linda Burney and Canterbury City Council were given one opportunity after another to fix their mistakes but they chose to do nothing other than insult and threaten Mrs Mallone.
Ask the Mayor why he believes he and Council do not owe Mrs Mallone an apology when it was Council stormwater damaging her property and putting peoples lives in danger; When it was Council that refused to allow her to remove trees that were damaging her property and putting peoples lives in danger; When it was Council who approved the changes to her neighbours land that was damaging her property and putting peoples lives in danger.
Ask him why Council said “ha ha your problem now” when massive boulders began crashing down from a massive cliff smashing against the wall of homes below.
Ask the Mayor what the Mayor’s Role is? What the Councils role is? and What a Member of Parliament role is?
Then ask him so why does this elderly woman not deserve an apology.
If you want the full details of the corrupt actions and inactions of this Council Anne then please send an email to supportmallone@gmail.com
Finally Anne, when a teacher uses his authority to harm a student or group of students for no reason, yet is praising and awarding other students, then is that teacher doing is job and should he be praised! If one of those students being harmed notifies the headmaster of the wrongdoings of this teacher and the harm they are causing to students unable to defend themselves but the headmaster does nothing other than defend the teacher also making false statements about the students to protect the teacher. Do you praise the headmaster simply because that headmaster supports lots of school excursions?
There is honesty and dishonesty – there is no inbetween Anne.
August 19, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Hallo Mark,
I have send you an email, what happened it disappeared and I cannot get back to it even when I saved it. My computer has crashed without any reason and all my work have disappeared. So I want to know why?
August 19, 2009 at 6:37 pm
No email was received Anne.