LORD MAYOR NELMES MUST TAKE ACTION AGAINST HER COUNCILLOR

MY STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA IN RESPONSE TO THIS MORNINGS NEWCASTLE HERALD ARTICLE

I read this morning’s Newcastle Herald story concerning an alleged cover up of poor behaviour by endorsed Labor Councillors with great disappointment but sadly, I am not shocked.

This is one of the many reasons that I left the Labor party recently.

When party preselection processes are engaged in and incumbent councillors future careers are threatened, one would expect some form of response. In this case however, one particular councillor allegedly went a lot further and used the party’s disciplinary complaints system to target people she thought were a threat to her in an effort to attain a political advantage.

I was particularly disappointed by the racist aspects of the alleged bullying behaviour, which are particularly distasteful.

When this process was raised with the Head Office of the NSW Labor Party, an investigation was initially agreed to. Some weeks later, this investigation was pulled by the General Secretary, implying a cover up in order to protect the bullying councillor in question.

This is appalling behaviour from both the elected Labor councillor and by the highest echelons of the party itself.

The standard we walk by is the standard we accept. Does Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes accept bullying and misuse of serious disciplinary processes from her councillors or does she condemn them?

Does the NSW Labor Party accept the same behaviours or does it stamp down on them?

Today, I’m calling on Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes to take action against her Councillor and withdraw her endorsement as a Labor Candidate in the election on 14 September.