“You want to do it,do it in front of everyone. Have the guts,” he said. “No one leave. This guy’s a coward,remember that in September.”
Ristevski,now an independent,is running for the Liverpool mayoralty at September’s council election under the banner “Make Liverpool Great Again”.
Before the livestream was cut,Mannoun asked Ristevski to refrain from making defamatory comments and asked:“Are you threatening me? Are you threatening us,Mr Ristevski?”
Mannoun is already suing Ristevski for defamation in the NSW District Court over now-deleted Facebook comments from 2022 alleging Mannoun was a “crim” who inflated company finances.
Members of the United Services Union also were present in the gallery. USU manager Steve Donley said the union became involved in the matter following rumours up to 150 staff could be sacked. He would not say where the conjecture had originated.
When the closed session was called,union members and Ristevski refused to leave the chamber,prompting the council to call the police. Donley said they left the room once police arrived and explained they were breaching the law.
A council spokesperson said:“After numerous unsuccessful overtures to the group to leave the chamber,the local police were called to enforce the resolution of council. The small group then obeyed the police direction to leave the chamber and were there no further incidents.”
In the closed session,councillors resolved to suspend Ajaka with pay pending an independent investigation into the allegations,as well as broader workplace health and safety concerns at the council. They also resolved to notify the Office of Local Government about the matter.
The resolution was backed by Mannoun,deputy mayor Fiona Macnaught and four other councillors. Four councillors voted against,including Labor’s Charishma Kaliyanda,who is also the state MP for Liverpool.
Former Labor councillor Nathan Hagarty,now the state Labor MP for Leppington,said the state government should seriously consider holding an inquiry into Liverpool City Council or putting it into administration.
“It’s clearly dysfunctional,both the elected body and staff,” he said. “There has been a complete breakdown in process and procedure. Every week there’s a negative story about Liverpool Council. The residents and ratepayers deserve better,it’s time for clear air.”
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