STATEMENT REGARDING INACCURATE REPORTING BY THE
A USTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
At its Extraordinary Council meeting held last night, t he City of Ryde noted multiple factual errors in
recent media reporting on the Sydney North Planning Panel’s approval of the Eastwood Shopping
Centre development application on 7 August 2019. The majority of the errors were published in the
Australian Financial Review (AFR).
The manner of reporting suggests that Council determined the development application for the
Eastw ood Shopping Centre development. H owever, the proposed development was a matter
considered and determined by the Sydney North Planning Panel. Council is not the consent authority
with regard to that development application.
Councillors serving on Council have been unable to vote on major development applications
(including this development) since 20 09. Further, Councillors in Council have not been able to vote on
any development application in the Ryde Local Government Area since March 2018.
Despite repeated attempts by Council to have the record s corrected, certain media outlets have
continued to print known factual errors. As such, Council last night voted to delegate the General
Man ager authority to undertake any action, including legal measures, to correct false reports.
The General Manager will also report organisations that fail to correct and retract fundamental errors
to the Australian Press Council (APC). The APC handles complaints regarding alleged breach es of its
Standards of Practice by Australian publishers.
The Council strongly supports open and fair media. H owever, it will not stand for repeated and known
inaccuracies, which impact the reputation of the Council and its staff, to remain uncorrected.
