April 24th, 2006
Media Release
Following on from the disturbing departure of City of Sydney Council CEO Mr. Peter Seamer, Greens Councillor Chris Harris has obtained explosive legal advice that indicates that the Lord Mayor has acted outside her authority
According to this advice, the Lord Mayor’s power to negotiate a settlement with Mr Seamer would depend upon whether he resigned or was sacked and the Lord Mayor should immediately reveal the details of the CEO’s departure to the Councillors.
Cr Harris: “Whether the Lord Mayor forced the CEO to step down or whether she accepted his resignation with a negotiated confidential payout I have clear legal advice that the Lord Mayor has acted beyond her powers. If the CEO has resigned, as the Lord Mayor claims, the Lord Mayor has no authority to negotiate a settlement. If he has been terminated then the Lord Mayor has acted unlawfully in failing to consult with the Councillors.”
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Posted in Council, Media Release
April 22nd, 2006
Media Release
There was strong interest in the Forum on Homophobic Violence on Oxford Street held at Slide on Tuesday evening. Those who attended were local residents, the Darlinghurst Business partnership, City of Sydney’s new acting CEO Monica Barone, ACON President Adrian Lovney, Det Inspector David Egan-Lee from the Surry Hills Police plus many members of the local GLBTI community. Greens Cr. Chris Harris was the only City of Sydney Councillor to attend the meeting.
Speaker after speaker reinforced that physical violence and verbal vilification of the GLBTI community was a regular feature of life on Oxford St particularly in the higher risk times of Thursday-Saturday evenings.
Many speakers spoke about the importance of having a more visible police force as a way to curb aggressive behaviour towards GLBTI men and women. Views were mixed on the installation of CCTV cameras on Oxford St with privacy concerns and fears that the cameras would be used for other agendas aside from that of anti violence raised.
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Posted in Media Release, LGBTI
April 4th, 2006
Media Release
Less than 2 years into her reign as Lord Mayor, Clover Moore sacks her second CEO.
Today the Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced that Mr. Peter Seamer, CEO of the City of Sydney Council had resigned. This is less than one year into his contract and follows the sacking of previous CEO Robert Dom in late 2004. Today, Ms Moore refused to answer the question on whether Mr. Seamer had resigned or had been pushed.
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Posted in Council, Media Release
April 3rd, 2006
Yesterday I attended the launch of the Greens affordable housing bill at Pyrmont Point Park. Syliva Hale delivered a short speech to launch the bill and this was followed by a few words from the Mayor of Waverley, Mora Main and myself.
Pyrmont was chosen as the location for the launch as the successful City West affordable housing scheme has been established in this area for some time and now provides affordable accommodation for over 900 people.
The bill has been drafted as an amendment to the Environmental Planning legislation and would allow councils to require new housing developments of 10 units or more to provide a minimum of 10% of new housing units for people on low and moderate incomes. The affordable units would be managed by non-profit housing co-operatives or the Department of Housing.
Audio: Affordable housing remarks - April 2, 2006 at Pyrmont Point
Posted in Photo Gallery, Housing, Audio
