LOCAL councillors will be banned from voting on matters directly affecting their own private business interests after the Baird government responded to the furore over Auburn Deputy Mayor Salim Mehajer’s lucrative business empire.

In a major backflip, Local Government Minister Paul Toole said that the government would change the law to ensure councillors no longer voted on issues where they had a pecuniary interest.

In 2012, the government amended the Local Government Act to allow councillors to modify planning rules.

It allowed people such as Mr Mehajer, the millionaire property developer whose outlandish wedding celebrations made global headlines, to use his vote on Auburn council to legally support changes to the Auburn local environment plan in 2013.

“We said if there is an issue, we will fix it, and that’s what will happen,” Mr Toole said.

The state opposition was going to announce a private members’ bill to repeal the state government’s 2012 laws this week.

Opposition Leader Luke Foley said the change three years ago had been “disastrous”.

Mr Foley is also calling for property developers and real estate agents to be prohibited from sitting on councils.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/salim-mehajer-furore-over-his-business-empire-sees-changes-to-local-councillor-voting-process/story-fni0cx12-1227497248312

Foley is right, for once. Developers and real estate agents should be prohibited from sitting on Councils due to the obvious potential for conflict of interest.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Aug 25^th, 2015 at 8:53am:

Foley is right, for once. Developers and real estate agents should be prohibited from sitting on Councils due to the obvious potential for conflict of interest.

I agree.

Having said that, I don't think that's going to make a big difference. Do you?

Lisa Jones wrote on Aug 25^th, 2015 at 8:57am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Aug 25th, 2015 at 8:53am: Foley is right, for once. Developers and real estate agents should be prohibited from sitting on Councils due to the obvious potential for conflict of interest. I agree. Having said that, I don't think that's going to make a big difference. Do you?

It's a start.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Aug 25^th, 2015 at 8:58am:

Lisa Jones wrote on Aug 25th, 2015 at 8:57am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Aug 25th, 2015 at 8:53am: Foley is right, for once. Developers and real estate agents should be prohibited from sitting on Councils due to the obvious potential for conflict of interest. I agree. Having said that, I don't think that's going to make a big difference. Do you? It's a start.

I agree.

I just don't think it's going to make much difference.

I myself can see many ways around it ..... already.

It will not happen. There is no way Baird will risk pissing off his mates and cutting off the libs supply of brown paper bags from property developers! ;) ;) ;)

macman wrote on Aug 25^th, 2015 at 9:57am:

It will not happen. There is no way Baird will risk pissing off his mates and cutting off the libs supply of brown paper bags from property developers! ;) ;) ;)

they don't need to be in council to bribe the libs

libs will take bribes from anyone :D :D :D

Armchair_Politician wrote on Aug 25^th, 2015 at 8:53am:

Foley is right, for once. Developers and real estate agents should be prohibited from sitting on Councils due to the obvious potential for conflict of interest.

I totally disagree.  Conflicts of interest need to be disclosed of course but an individual's democratic right to run for office shouldn't be taken away due to their occupation?

Are trade union officials also going to be banned?

macman wrote on Aug 25^th, 2015 at 9:57am:

It will not happen. There is no way Baird will risk pissing off his mates and cutting off the libs supply of brown paper bags from property developers! ;) ;) ;)

Stop it! BOTH sides of politics are guilty of this.