Car bomb, feuds and $5K to count 12 votes as NSW councils scrutinised
Local government may have a reputation for being boring, but NSW budget estimates today provided an extraordinary snapshot of what is playing out across the state's councils.
The NSW budget estimates revealed a series of incidents impacting local government councils, including a car bombing, feuds, and a costly election process. Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig expressed concern and disbelief over these matters. One council spent nearly $5,000 to count 12 votes, a decision defended by the council, claiming the appointment of an external returning officer was recommended and endorsed by councillors.
More alarming was the firebombing of a vehicle belonging to the husband of Cumberland Mayor Ola Hamed, prompting questions about council-funded private security and the approval process for expenditures. An unnamed councillor faced charges for threatening to kill a colleague, later dismissed under mental health provisions. The hearing also delved into concerns about apprehended violence orders (AVOs) between councillors, with costs reaching nearly $1 million in one regional council case, prompting questions about the approval process.
Local media treatment and a councillor's technology expenses of around $4,000 were also scrutinized by Hawkesbury City Council. Minister Hoenig warned about the weaponization of the complaints system and threatened rarely-used financial surcharge powers against a council near the Victorian border. He emphasized that councillors, not bureaucrats, run the council. Cumberland and Hawkesbury Councils were contacted for comment.
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