'This is not Auburn Council': Police called to chaotic Liverpool Council meeting as seven councillors walk out
Explosive confrontations shook Liverpool Council on Wednesday night after seven councillors were ejected from a public meeting for failing to agree with a decision set by Mayor Ned Mannoun.
The councillors had filed a motion to sack CEO Carl Wullf after claims he took 10 months to respond to a Workcover report that found asbestos at multiple work sites.
The motion was quickly rejected by Mayor Mannoun.
Councillor Peter Ristevski argued his point until he was thrown out of the meeting.
"This is not a dictatorship... councillor this is your last and final warning,” Mayor Mannoun could be heard yelling in the meeting.
Councillor Ristevski said many other councillors believed the behaviour was unacceptable.
"He threw me out of the meeting, got a security guard to escort me out. My colleagues were disgusted in that behaviour so they've walked out in disgust,” he told 7 News.
The councillors also filed a motion to remove Mayor Mannoun’s right to speak in front of council.
The mayor disregarded this move as well, and likened the behavior of the councillors to that of the disgraced Auburn Council.
"This is not Auburn Council, if people want to conduct themselves like Salim, well you know what happens there,” he said, referring to controversial ex-deputy Salim Mehajer.
Steve Donley from the United Services Union told 7 News the damage from ignoring the asbestos report had already spread too far.
"Every bit of footpath for the last two years that's been laid has been backfilled with the same dirt that's contaminated,” he said.
Twenty police officers showed up to the meeting, much to the disgust of some of the councillors.
The councillor who called police claimed he was physically threatened by Sam Bargshoon, one of the Mayor's supporters.
Mr Bargshoon labelled the man a ‘sook’ and told 7 News the phone call to police was melodramatic.
“He said I tried to threaten him and he called the police, all we said to him is you're a gutless bloke, that's what he is, he's a gutless bloke,” he said.
The intense divisions include claims the Mayor is 'ramming Islam' down the throats of locals.
Councillor Gus Balloot said he was disappointed of the outcome of the meeting.
"What happened tonight is a disgrace and I think some of those motions are racist,” he said.
7 News reported on Wednesday that the CEO was given the opportunity to stand down and he chose not to.
The Local Government Minister is being briefed on the meeting before taking action.
News break – February 25
