Liverpool City Council has voted to remove Mayor Ned Mannoun as its official spokesperson, escalating a bitter internal conflict. The motion, passed on Wednesday evening, also scraps the mayor's message from the monthly newsletter, replaces his newspaper column, and removes his photo from council publications and invitations.
Mayor Mannoun criticized the decision as a waste of ratepayers' money, stating the council spent two hours on political games rather than improving residents' lives. However, Councillor Peter Ristevski, who proposed the motion, argued it was necessary to ensure proper process, citing an October article where Mannoun announced a $600 million stadium proposal without council approval.
The move follows repeated attempts by the council to dismiss embattled CEO Carl Wulff, who resigned earlier this month amid controversies over mishandled asbestos contamination and outsourcing policies. The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority is investigating several sites possibly affected by contaminated landfill linked to the council's soil storage facility.
Internal disputes have also included a debate over serving pork at council events, dubbed 'porkgate', after the Macedonian community complained their traditional dish was omitted to avoid offending Muslim and Jewish attendees. A February council meeting addressed six questions about halal sausages at a community barbecue.
The NSW Government has launched a review into a fiery council meeting last month, where about 20 police were called after allegations that Mayor Mannoun's supporters threatened and intimidated councillors trying to dismiss Mr Wulff. Interim CEO Michael Cullen, the council's economic development director, has been appointed to replace Wulff.
