KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL BY-ELECTION
Mr KINROSS (Gordon) [6.43]: A by-election in the Roseville ward of Ku-ring-gai Council, part of which is in my electorate, is set down for 11 May. One of the candidates in the by-election is the former mayor of Ku-ring-gai Council, Peter Derwent. I refer to the serious issues that the electors in Roseville ward must consider if they endorse Peter Derwent as their representative on the local council. The by-election is necessary because of the death of Councillor Geoff Swinson in February this year. It surprised many people that Geoff Swinson was a candidate in the local government election for Ku-ring-gai Council because unfortunately he had been in ill health for some years, while he was on the council and certainly since I had known him.
When the former mayor, Peter Derwent, ran for election in the Gordon ward in September last year, he not only lost his seat but was precluded, naturally, from standing as a candidate for mayor. He has now decided to contest the vacant seat in the Roseville ward. During the time that Peter Derwent was mayor of Ku-ring-gai Council he was investigated by the Ombudsman. Indeed, the 1994 report of the Ombudsman adversely named Mr Derwent and referred to his stewardship of Ku-ring-gai Council. Of the 177 councils in New South Wales, Ku-ring-gai Council was mentioned most frequently in the report. Mr Derwent is currently being investigated by the Ombudsman in relation to another matter. I am concerned, as are the residents in Roseville ward, that an adverse finding against Mr Derwent will mean that the residents in that ward must go to the polls for the third time in 12 months.
The residents went to the polls in September last year and they must go to the polls on 11 May. If Mr Derwent is successful in the by-election, and if the Ombudsman finds against him - not to mention the previous adverse findings in relation to his conduct when he was mayor and his handling of council matters - it is fair to say that he will have to consider standing aside or even resigning his position, although that may not be required under the law. That would then require residents in Roseville ward to elect another representative. The cost of a by-election is enormous. The 20,000 electors in Roseville ward voted in the local government election in September last year, as they are required to do every four years, and they must vote in the by-election on 11 May. A further by-election would mean additional costs.
On 23 and 24 November 1994 I raised matters relating to Ku-ring-gai Council and the Ombudsman. This matter needs to be addressed as I do not think that the community can afford any more by-elections. I ask the Minister for Fair Trading, and Minister for Women and the Minister for Local Government to bear these matters in mind. The matter should be investigated, given that the Ombudsman is currently investigating former mayor Peter Derwent.
Private members' statements noted.
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