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Former AMA boss Dr Kerryn Phelps has lent her support to the campaign.Credit:Louie Douvis

"What is not surprising is that this line of accusation and her resignation came just a week after I told her that I would not be supporting her bid to remain Deputy Lord Mayor,"Cr Moore said in a statement.

"I've been unhappy with her lack of understanding and support of City policies and our vision that we took to the community last election,as well as her non-attendance of important community and City events – it is fair to say we're not on the same page when it comes to how to serve the community,"she said.

The mayor's claim was challenged by the Liberal councillors.

"I've seen Kerryn Phelps at many,many community events,"Liberal councillor Craig Chung said.

In better days:Town crier Graham Keating,Jess Miller,Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and Professor Kerryn Phelps on the steps of Town Hall at the proclamation of the 2016 council.Credit:Louise Kennerley

A second Liberal,Christine Forster. said the mayor had been"sidelining"Cr Phelps in favour of promoting her other colleagues.

"She's been giving Cr Jess Scully all the jobs to do in council. She's been the one getting wheeled out at community functions rather than the deputy lord mayor as you would expect."

It's not the first time the lord mayor has parted ways unceremoniously with colleagues. In 2012,Cr Moore dropped Cr Phillip Black from her ticket months out from the election,allegedly telling him he no longer met her "core values". A second councillor,John McInerney,decided not to run again after disagreeing with Cr Moore on a number of key local issues.

Cr Moore will continue to exercise control over the City of Sydney. Cr Moore,on the strength of a dominant result at the 2016 council elections,will retain the support of another four City of Sydney councillors - Philip Thalis,Jess Scully,Robert Kok,and Jess Miller - while her own vote as Lord Mayor will be decisive on contentious questions for the 10 person council.

Cr Moore said that she had committed to rotating the position of Deputy Lord Mayor among her independent team."But as this moment neared,that became a point of tension,"she said of Cr Phelps.

"I often say I love the job but hate the politics – tonight we witnessed some of the worst kind of politics I have seen in the Chamber in a long time,"Cr Moore said.

Cr Phelps said:"It is a matter of principle to me that if I feel strongly about an issue,I need to be free to speak and vote as my conscience dictates.

"I have come to the conclusion that the only way forward for me is to resign from the Clover Moore Independents and continue my work on Council as a true independent."

Cr Phelps is a former president of the Australian Medical Association.

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