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Mayoral toy drive delivering joy this Christmashttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/mayoral-toy-drive-delivering-joy-this-christmasMayoral toy drive delivering joy this Christmas2023-11-20T13:00:00Z
Canterbury-Bankstown's oldest citizen sworn inhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/canterbury-bankstowns-oldest-citizen-sworn-inCanterbury-Bankstown's oldest citizen sworn in2023-11-19T13:00:00Z
Happy 100th Birthday Reg! Local veteran celebrates a centuryhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/happy-100th-birthday-reg-local-veteran-celebrates-a-centuryHappy 100th Birthday Reg! Local veteran celebrates a century2023-11-19T13:00:00Z
A CBCity Christmas: Council spreads festive cheerhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/a-cbcity-christmas-council-spreads-festive-cheerA CBCity Christmas: Council spreads festive cheer2023-11-12T13:00:00Z
Elite squad coach takes on 40km swim for charityhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/elite-squad-coach-takes-on-40km-swim-for-charityElite squad coach takes on 40km swim for charity2023-11-12T13:00:00Z
Bankstown Airport: Where the sky's the limithttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/bankstown-airport-where-the-skys-the-limitBankstown Airport: Where the sky's the limit2023-11-07T13:00:00Z
Cameras to watch illegal dumpershttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/cameras-to-watch-illegal-dumpersCameras to watch illegal dumpers2023-11-05T13:00:00Z
Upgrades make for a safer walk to schoolhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/upgrades-make-for-a-safer-walk-to-schoolUpgrades make for a safer walk to school2023-11-05T13:00:00Z
End of year household clean-up spots filling fast!https://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/end-of-year-household-clean-up-spots-filling-fastEnd of year household clean-up spots filling fast!2023-10-29T13:00:00Z
eWaste collection returns to CBCityhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/ewaste-collection-returns-to-cbcityeWaste collection returns to CBCity2023-10-29T13:00:00Z
Clean out the cleaners this chemical cleanout dayhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/clean-out-the-cleaners-this-chemical-cleanout-dayClean out the cleaners this chemical cleanout day2023-10-22T13:00:00Z
Tug O' War cup takes on domestic violencehttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/tug-o-war-cup-takes-on-domestic-violenceTug O' War cup takes on domestic violence2023-10-15T13:00:00Z
Nominate a mate for CBCity's Australia Day Awardshttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/nominate-a-mate-for-cbcitys-australia-day-awardsNominate a mate for CBCity's Australia Day Awards2023-10-15T13:00:00Z
Four teams go head to head for Griffith Park designhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/four-teams-go-head-to-head-for-griffith-park-designFour teams go head to head for Griffith Park design2023-10-08T13:00:00Z
Free info sessions to help pensioners cut costshttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/free-info-sessions-to-help-pensioners-cut-costsFree info sessions to help pensioners cut costs2023-10-08T13:00:00Z
From Cadet to Commended: Council officer wins top honourhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/from-cadet-to-commended-council-officer-wins-top-honourFrom Cadet to Commended: Council officer wins top honour2023-10-04T13:00:00Z
Campaign for kids to read 1,000 books before schoolhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/campaign-for-kids-to-read-1-000-books-before-schoolCampaign for kids to read 1,000 books before school2023-09-28T14:00:00Z
Starlit cinema brings movie magic to the great outdoorshttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/starlit-cinema-brings-movie-magic-to-the-great-outdoorsStarlit cinema brings movie magic to the great outdoors2023-09-28T14:00:00Z
Emergency services to educate and engage at Community Safety Expohttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/emergency-services-to-educate-and-engage-at-community-safety-expoEmergency services to educate and engage at Community Safety Expo2023-09-28T14:00:00Z
Female Muslim art collective explores culture and identityhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/female-muslim-art-collective-explores-culture-and-identityFemale Muslim art collective explores culture and identity2023-09-25T14:00:00Z
Learn about the Voice Referendum at Council's information sessionshttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/learn-about-the-voice-referendum-at-councils-information-sessionsLearn about the Voice Referendum at Council's information sessions2023-09-17T14:00:00Z
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor and Deputy Mayor Electionhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/canterbury-bankstown-mayor-and-deputy-mayor-electionCanterbury-Bankstown Mayor and Deputy Mayor Election2023-09-11T14:00:00Z
Council hands out more than $500,000 in community supporthttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/council-hands-out-more-than-$500-000-in-community-supportCouncil hands out more than $500,000 in community support2023-09-10T14:00:00Z
Residents to get prepared for Emergency Get Ready Weekhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/residents-to-get-prepared-for-emergency-get-ready-weekResidents to get prepared for Emergency Get Ready Week2023-09-10T14:00:00Z
Expo educates about risks associated with dementiahttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/expo-educates-about-risks-associated-with-dementiaExpo educates about risks associated with dementia2023-09-10T14:00:00Z
A community united for welcoming weekhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/a-community-united-for-welcoming-weekA community united for welcoming week2023-09-03T14:00:00Z
Experience the vibrant culture of Ukraine with let's go serieshttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/experience-the-vibrant-culture-of-ukraine-with-lets-go-seriesExperience the vibrant culture of Ukraine with let's go series2023-09-03T14:00:00Z
Sunny savings with solar rebate programhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/sunny-savings-with-solar-rebate-programSunny savings with solar rebate program2023-09-03T14:00:00Z
A centenary celebration: Council plants 100 trees to mark 100 years of Rotaryhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/a-centenary-celebration-council-plants-100-trees-to-mark-100-years-of-rotaryA centenary celebration: Council plants 100 trees to mark 100 years of Rotary2023-08-28T14:00:00Z
Spring into nature at three-month festivalhttps://cbcity.nsw.gov.au/media/news/spring-into-nature-at-three-month-festivalSpring into nature at three-month festival2023-08-27T14:00:00Z

Media alert

Media alert Arthur Moses SC’s independent review of the investigation into allegations concerning the Mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown, Council staff and its processes has been released. Yes Arthur Moses SC’s independent review of the investigation into allegations concerning the Mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown, Council staff and its processes has been released.  
Media Alert Header

Arthur Moses SC’s independent review of the investigation into allegations concerning the Mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown, Council staff and its processes has been released.

A copy of the reports will be provided to ICAC and the Minister for Local Government.

The Investigation, which was led by Ms Kath Roach of SINC Solutions looked into allegations made under parliamentary privilege by Ms Tania Mihailuk MP and Ms Wendy Lindsay MP and related to planning matters between 2009-2022.

The three-month Investigation involved questioning of the Mayor Khal Asfour and Council staff and reviewing thousands of pages of documentation.

Ms Lindsay MP and Ms Mihailuk MP were each invited to provide information about their allegations to the Investigation but did not do so. The Investigation could not compel them to provide any information and had to rely on them as public officials agreeing to provide information about the allegations.

The review makes no findings about their use of parliamentary privilege to make allegations but focuses on the allegations which were made.

Mr Moses was asked to review the SINC Solutions investigation to ascertain whether there was any evidence of any unlawful, or corrupt conduct by any elected official, or Council employees.
He also examined whether there were any breaches under Council’s Code of Conduct or the Local Government Act.

Key findings include:

  • No evidence that Mayor Khal Asfour has, or at any relevant time had any business or personal relationships with Eddie Obeid, or his son Paul.
  • No evidence that Mayor Khal Asfour failed to declare and manage conflicts of interest in respect of decisions concerning the West Terrace carpark. And further that Mayor Asfour was not directly involved in any decisions with respect to planning matters concerning the Bellevue Venue site.
  • No evidence that the Mayor Khal Asfour failed to declare and manage any conflict of interests in respect of the Local Area Plan and the Planning Proposal as it related to Segers Avenue, Padstow and the Draft Consolidated LEP as it related to the East Hills Area.
  • No conduct identified as being in breach of the Code of Conduct, or LGA Act which could be deemed corrupt conduct for the purposes of the ICAC Act, or an offence for the purpose of any other Act.
  • In relation to the allegations made by Ms Mihailuk MP and Ms Lindsay MP there is no evidence of any corrupt or unlawful act, or breaches of the Code of Conduct/Local Government Act by the Mayor Khal Asfour or any employee of Council.
  • A significant amount of time and resources were expended reviewing documents as the allegations of misconduct levelled at the Mayor and Council staff “lacked particularisation”.
  • Council had in place at all relevant times, appropriate corporate governance with respect to corruption prevention measures. And the General Manager and senior staff proactively took steps to ensure that Councillors were meeting their obligations in respect of the Code of Conduct.
  • Council at all relevant times sought to adhere to its obligations to investigate allegations in a timely manner and to report matters to the ICAC.

In concluding, Mr Moses found the evidence presented showed that Mayor Asfour had diligently fulfilled his obligations under the Code of Conduct. He said the allegations had regrettably cast a shadow over the entire Council.

Mr Moses said it was a matter for individual members of Parliament to determine what is raised under Parliamentary privilege but noted and agreed with comments made in a different context in a recent report by the Chief Commissioner of ICAC the Hon. John Hatzistergos AM.

Mr Hatzistergos AM reminded candidates for the upcoming State election they should act properly in making referrals to the Commission and that investigations into allegations of corrupt conduct are rarely assisted by premature publicity.

Arthur Moses SC’s review and the SINC Solutions report and supporting documentation are available online at cb.city/MosesReview from 4pm.


 11/01/2023 9:48 AM