Clover caught using City of Sydney resources to conduct election campaign
July 9th, 2008After advance warnings to all councillors by City of Sydney’s CEO and the Department of Local Government about using council resources for electioneering purposes, The Lord Mayor was caught red-handed at her own campaign launch.
Her Communications Manager, Jeff Lewis, was handing out promotional material at the launch, but when questioned about this, said he had taken a few hours leave to volunteer in his own time. After I made a formal complaint about his involvement in the launch, we were told Mr Lewis had taken a pre-approved half-day leave. I am yet to receive a response to my request to see details of the approval.
Garry Payne, director-general of the Department of Local Government, said that if a staff member is on leave there is no issue, but normally someone would take a few days or a week. He said he had never come across someone taking a few hours.
The story was picked up by the Sydney Morning Herald and the Wentworth and Central Couriers.
