Donation trepidation

As reported in City News over recent weeks, both councillors came under fire for participating in debates despite significant non-pecuniary interests. A significant non-pecuniary interest is defined as any contribution by a single donor of more than $1,000 over four years to an individual councillor or their ‘official agent’.

Cr Moore elected to absent herself from the evening’s discussion and vote on the fitout of the approved IGA supermarket in Chalmers Street, Redfern.

“In 2006 Peter Holmes à Court attended a fundraising dinner for my State Parliament election campaign. He purchased one table for himself and another donated to public housing tenants,” Cr Moore said.

“It may not be strictly necessary for me to make a declaration and absent myself from Council’s decision…but I am going to err on the side of caution and ensure there will be no perception of this sort.”

Cr Mallard meanwhile read a prepared statement, admitting he had made a mistake in the interpretation of the Code. “It has now been brought to my attention, and confirmed by my own independent legal advice, that the correct action in these circumstances was to also leave the chamber, as under the City of Sydney and the model Code of Conduct, the donations, as declared, are viewed as of a significant non-pecuniary nature,” he said.

Cr Mallard stated he had reported his “inadvertent breach” to City CEO Monica Barone, who had subsequently passed it to the Director General of the Department of Local Government for further investigation.

“I want to assure Council that my breach was a genuine error and a misunderstanding on my part, and was in no way an intention to deceive or evade my responsibilities,” Cr Mallard said. “I unreservedly apologise to the Council for this mistake and commit to more careful consideration of these matters in the future.”

Two weeks ago, Greens activist Matthew Drake-Brockman submitted a complaint regarding Cr Mallard’s handling of the donations disclosure.

Source: www.altmedia.net.au/donation-trepidation/13095