‘Deeply troubling’: Demand for investigation into allegations of ministerial interference

2 hours ago 2

Premier Chris Minns says it is “very reasonable” for Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig to want “thorough and prompt” inquiries into the conduct of a Sydney Labor mayor, after it was alleged he improperly tried to exert influence.

The Greens have branded the allegations that Hoenig asked repeatedly about the case against former Bayside mayor Bill Saravinovski “deeply troubling”, and called for an investigation into suggestions there had been a “serious misuse of public resources to further the interests of the NSW Labor Party”.

The Herald on Monday revealed allegations that on five separate occasions, Hoenig pushed Office of Local Government deputy secretary Brett Whitworth to expedite a tribunal submission as part of the minister’s desire to deal with council preselections in Bayside.

Premier Chris Minns has backed Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig (left) after allegations he pressured a senior public servant.

In secret parliamentary evidence in mid-September, Whitworth claimed he protested against Hoenig’s involvement in the Saravinovski matter, saying it was improper. Whitworth alleged the minister persisted despite the public servant’s objections, and said the incident led him to consider resigning.

Minns said on Monday the matter had been referred to OLG by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, but said “I don’t have any knowledge” of Whitworth’s evidence, including a submission made public in August that made similar allegations against Hoenig.

“It’s very reasonable that the minister would say that these inquiries need to be thorough and prompt, and I would expect that to be the case for all my ministers when dealing with issues in front of them,” Minns said.

“I’d also make the point that if this report had been delayed or stopped … I think a lot of people, critics of the government, critics of Minister Hoenig, would be … alleging, you are sitting on a report, you’re slowing down the investigation.”

NSW Greens anti-corruption spokesperson Kobi Shetty said the suggestion Hoenig may have engaged in “political interference must be fully and transparently investigated”.

“These allegations against a senior member of Minns’ cabinet are deeply troubling. If found to be true, this would suggest a serious misuse of public resources to further the interests of the NSW Labor Party,” she said.

After 40 years on Rockdale then Bayside council, Saravinovski was dumped as a candidate ahead of the council elections last year. A case at the NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal ultimately found him guilty of three grounds of misconduct.

Greens MP Kobi Shetty says the suggestion Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig interfered to “further the interest of the NSW Labor Party” should be investigated.

Saravinovski was issued with a reprimand in February. Six months later, the ICAC announced charges of providing misleading evidence would be brought against him.

As part of the investigation into Saravinovski’s downfall, the Herald also established that one of Minns’ most senior advisers, Cherie Burton, lobbied Bayside councillors to help Ed McDougall become mayor. McDougall is the chief of staff of Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper, and widely seen as a potential replacement should Kamper retire.

Minns said he was unaware of “whether she made the call” or “whether it had an impact”. But he noted Burton and McDougall had known each other for 20 years and it was unsurprising a “member of the Labor Party … will have a view as to who would be a good local MP or a good mayor”.

“I do know that the two of them have known each other for a long time, and she might have a regard as to whether he would be a good mayor or not,” he said.

According to party sources, Burton told Labor councillor Joe Awada to stand aside, providing McDougall a clean run at the mayoralty. In exchange, Burton said he would be supported as mayor in two years when McDougall ran for the seat of Rockdale at the 2027 state election.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.