Liverpool councillors move to refer chief executive to ICAC

6 days ago 3

Liverpool councillors have called for an extraordinary meeting to suspend the embattled council’s chief executive, Jason Breton, after an inquiry heard allegations that Mayor Ned Mannoun solicited a $1000 donation from a property developer to help fund Breton’s failed local government election run.

On Tuesday, Labor’s Sam Karnib and Ethan Monaghan submitted a written request for Mannoun to call an urgent extraordinary meeting to allow for councillors to debate a motion calling for the alleged donation to be referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

Liverpool Council chief executive Jason Breton, a former NSW Police detective chief inspector.

The motion calls for council’s community and lifestyle director, Tina Bono, to be appointed as acting chief executive, with Breton to be immediately suspended until an external investigation considers the evidence aired in the Office of Local Government inquiry into alleged dysfunction and maladministration at the council. Mannoun must have the motion heard within 14 days of receiving the request.

With five of the 11 councillors in favour of the motion, Labor requires independent Peter Harle to reach the sufficient majority to pass the motion. Harle did not respond to requests for comment.

During the inquiry last Monday, Breton gave evidence he did not recall “whatsoever” a $1000 transfer, dubbed “election contribution”, that went into his account before the December 2021 local government elections. The inquiry was shown an email in which he thanked Mannoun for the funds.

“I do not recall that transaction, but I retrospectively thank Mr Mannoun for doing so. I thought I had one donation from Sam Sofi at $5000, and I’d run the rest of the failed campaign on my own coin, did miserably, and moved on with it,” he told the inquiry.

The inquiry was also shown an email from January 9, 2025, sent to Breton and Mannoun from lawyers acting for Joseph Cannavo of Icon Property Investments Pty Ltd, which read in part: “It is noted that at the request of Mayor Mannoun, our client in 2021 donated $2000 to your campaign to be elected to a seat in the South Ward of Liverpool local government area.”

Breton said he didn’t recall seeing that correspondence, and said there was “no evidence at all that I received that email. I think if I had received this email, I would have done something about it,” he told the inquiry.

However, despite Breton providing evidence he received only one donation, NSW Electoral Commission disclosures show four other donations, including the alleged contribution from Cannavo. In total, Breton received $10,052.25 in donations across 16 days of the council election campaign.

The Herald has established each of those donors was closely linked to Mannoun.

Disclosures reveal Squashlands Fitness donated $1000 to Breton on November 23, 2021. One week later, Mannoun posted an endorsement from the gym’s co-owner, Evelina. Likewise, two non-monetary donations worth $3052.25 came from a company called SA Emerald Pty Ltd which, according to financial records, is directed and co-owned by Mannoun’s brother Samer.

The inquiry heard evidence Breton considered himself an “absolute novice” when current Liberal councillor Matthew Harte had encouraged him to run as an independent candidate in Liverpool’s south ward in the council elections in December 2021, when Breton had been between jobs.

“Ego probably got the better of me. I thought it was a good idea. I had a crack. Didn’t do very well, and that’s, as far as I was aware, where it ends,” Breton told the inquiry.

Breton also told the inquiry he was naive and didn’t know the other candidates, who included Lorenzo “Max” Luciano, who received a character reference from Mannoun in court after he was caught driving with cocaine in his system in 2019, and two family members of Matthew Harte.

Harte later served as campaign manager to Mannoun’s wife, Tina Ayyad, during her successful bid to be the Liberal MP for the seat of Holsworthy during the 2023 state election. Harte then successfully ran on Mannoun’s ticket during the 2024 council elections.

Breton also said he was unaware of the political strategy of a “dummy group” of independent candidates who would channel their preferences to one of the established parties in an election.

Breton told the inquiry he did not declare his association with Mannoun when he landed an acting role as a director at the council, nor in later applications for promotions, saying: “I have never … had a meal at anybody’s home, I’m not this person’s friend”.

“I was in a circumstance where I was introduced to Mr Mannoun … I did a little bit of work for him … and during that process had a discussion about some candidacy for running,” said Breton, saying the suggestion he was parachuted into the candidacy was “really distasteful”.

In comments to the Herald, Breton said: “I am confident that where all the evidence is heard that the commissioner alone can determine all outcomes appropriate to the terms of reference and record those in findings and recommendations.”

Breton, a former NSW Police detective chief inspector who was previously the council’s director of operations, started work at the council in late 2022. He was appointed acting chief executive after his predecessor, former Liberal MP John Ajaka, was sensationally ousted last year following a falling out with Mannoun. Breton was formally appointed to the permanent chief executive role in April.

The Office of Local Government inquiry into the council is examining councillors’ conduct, as well as the council’s handling of finances, property purchases, staff employment, and $150 million in state government grants. It will resume in October or November.

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.