The Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig is right to sack Liverpool Council given the level of dysfunction, says the union representing staff at the south west sydney council.
Minister Hoenig announced today a public inquiry into the council, the deferral of the scheduled September elections at Liverpool Council until after that inquiry reports, and that he intends to suspend the council (council formally has seven days to appeal the suspension decision).
An interim report provided to the Minister details a number of areas of concern with regard to recruitment and staffing practices, procurement irregularities, allegations of inappropriate record keeping and widespread evidence of a toxic work environment.
Steve Donley Metropolitan Manager with the United Services Union (USU) says the Minister has made the only logical move he could given the sad amount of dysfunction at the council.
“For many years our members have been reporting to us problems at Liverpool Council, and today Minister Hoenig showed their voices have been heard,” said Mr Donley.
“Mayor Ned Mannoun has gone through 10 CEOs in eight years, I think that tells you all you need to know about his people skills.
“The Mayor has lost the confidence of the people who roll out council services, the librarians who host ‘rhyme time’ for toddlers, the ground’s keepers who get soccer fields ready for weekend sport, the garbo’s who keep local streets clean.
“We hope this inquiry will throw open the windows and let some fresh air and sunshine in so we can move forward with a council focussed on the needs of local people,” said Mr Donley.
