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Mr O'FARRELL: My question is directed to the Minister for Local Government. Now that the Independent Commmission Against Corruption [ICAC] has determined that allegations surrounding the Oasis-Obeid-Australian Labor Party bribery scandal are serious enough to warrant examination in public hearings, will the Minister explain on what basis the Labor Mayor of Liverpool, George Pacuillo, has resumed full duties, after initially standing aside because of the ICAC investigations?
Mr WOODS: That matter is for the mayor and the council to determine.
Mr SPEAKER: I call the honourable member for Ku-ring-gai to order.
Mr WOODS: I remind honourable members that under the Local Government Act a councillor can take leave of absence with the approval of his or her fellow councillors. That was the case at Liverpool. Under the Act I do not have the power to deal with individual councillors, as the honourable member for Ku-ring-gai knows. However, changes were made to the Act in June.
Mr SPEAKER: I call the honourable member for Ku-ring-gai to order for the second time.
Mr Brogden: You are supposed to set the standard.
Mr WOODS: It would be good if the Leader of the Opposition listened to this, because he continually puts his foot in it when commenting on these matters. On a number of occasions he has asked for a council to be sacked and for a quick inquiry. The requirements of the Act have been explained to him time and again, yet he refuses to either understand it or to listen to the explanations.
Mr SPEAKER: I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the second time.
Mr WOODS: The Leader of the Opposition's lack of experience and unwillingness to have regard to the Act show that he is incapable of handling these matters. The changes made to the Act in June enable me to suspend or sack individual councillors on the basis of an interim or final report from the ICAC; and, in fact, the Opposition supported those changes. However, I must wait for any report from the ICAC before acting. All honourable members know that if the ICAC recommends that I take action I will consider that recommendation.