Local government minister has concerns about whether development decisions delivered an ‘inappropriate’ benefit to Mehajer and other councillors

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer and other councillors could be suspended over development decisions that could have personally benefitted them, the New South Wales government has announced.

The local government minister, Paul Toole, has given the western Sydney council two weeks to prove it is not in the public interest for them to be suspended.

“I have serious concerns about Auburn city council’s perceived decision making in relation to planning and development matters and the appearance that those decisions may have delivered an inappropriate benefit to some councillors,” Toole said on Thursday.

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An administrator will be appointed if the council is suspended while the public inquiry investigates allegations that development decisions have been skewed to benefit both councillors and their relatives.

“There are ongoing concerns around some councillors’ potential conflicts of interests,” Toole said.

Mehajer came to national attention after shutting down a street in Lidcombe for his wedding last year which included four helicopters and a $50m fleet of luxury sports cars.

North Sydney Council will also face a public inquiry following allegations of conflict and dysfunction, it was announced on Thursday.

Toole said North Sydney councillors have repeatedly failed to address the poor relationship between them, leading toperformance issues.

The dysfunction has cost ratepayers almost $250,000 over the past two years, he said.

Richard Beasley SC has been appointed as commissioner to conduct the public inquiry into Auburn council, while Thomas Howard SC will head the North Sydney council inquiry.