Local Government Minister Ron Hoeing rejects call to change recommendation against suspension of Liverpool Council

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig says he was unaware that his department had advised against suspending Liverpool City Council, only to change its recommendation the same day.

At a budget hearing on Thursday, Mr Hoenig denied asking the Office of Local Government to change its recommendations.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on July 10, Deputy Minister Brett Whitworth circulated a draft briefing note on the matter to the Minister, telling his colleagues that he did not “expect too much change from now on.”

The minister had issued a suspension in July after an interim report on recruitment practices revealed suspicions of a “toxic culture” within the council.

The briefing, seen by ABC, said the “Department of Local Government does not recommend suspending the councillors.”

Question of “public interest”

While the Office for Local Government said there were legitimate concerns about the council’s functioning, it warned that suspending the council during a public inquiry could be seen as “contrary to the public interest”.

“It would also be a challenge to clearly demonstrate to the minister that a suspension would be in the public interest,” the warning said.

However, the revised briefing, circulated later that afternoon, contained completely different recommendations.

“The Act gives the Minister the power to suspend councillors during an ongoing public inquiry if the Minister considers it is in the public interest to do so,” the briefing said.

“A suspension would prevent council members from making inappropriate or detrimental decisions while the investigation is ongoing.”

A week after receiving the briefing, Mr Hoenig announced his intention to suspend the council while a public inquiry was conducted into allegations of widespread dysfunction.

However, the suspension has not yet come into force.

Mr Hoenig gave the council seven days to justify why the suspension should not go ahead. Following Liverpool Council’s appeal, this deadline was extended.

Minister “certainly did not” put pressure on the ministry

Liberal frontbencher Scott Farlow asked Mr Hoenig if he had spoken to Mr Whitworth before making the final recommendation.

“I can’t remember. It may well be that it was like that,” replied Mr. Hoenig.

“Were there any discussions between you or your office with Mr Whitworth that suggested to him that this recommendation should be changed?” asked Mr Farlow.

“I certainly did not,” replied Mr Hoenig, adding that he “did not know” that this alternative advice existed.

“But if that had been the view of the Office of Local Government, I honestly wouldn’t have agreed with it anyway,” he said.

Mr Hoenig argued that he did not need the approval of his department.

“The discretion is mine. The statutory power is mine,” he said.

Mr Whitworth also appeared before the Budget Committee but refused to answer questions as he is named as a defendant in Liverpool Council’s lawsuit.

“I would like to have my objection to questions on this in Hansard,” he said

“I remain concerned that questions could affect a matter that is the subject of an appeal,” he told the committee.

“I will be happy to make a statement after the appeal.”