Moore not miffed by multi-tasking

The Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP has called for a referendum to allow voters to decide whether councillors should be barred from also holding a state seat.

Premier Barry O’Farrell initiated an inquiry into the dual political roles of NSW parliamentarians early this year.

The NSW cabinet is now considering a new law to force politicians to choose between the two positions.

In reaction, Ms Moore produced a submission paper outlining her reasons against the move.

“Given the contentious nature of the proposed ban on dual roles, and its damaging impact on democracy and the quality of community representation, any such ban should be subject to endorsement by the people of NSW in a constitutional referendum,” she said in a statement dated January 31.

There are 29 state MPs who are also elected local councillors or mayors.

Associate professor Rodney Smith at the University of Sydney’s Department of Government said Ms Moore is not in an unusual situation.

“Historically, politicians from all political parties and independents have combined the role of local representative as councillor or mayor with MP,” he said.

“The reasons for keeping them separate could do with the idea of a state member being a full-time occupation.”

“The argument is that they can’t also fulfil the additional responsibilities of councillor or mayor.”

Kings Cross resident and active community member, Peter Young said he has been frustrated by Ms Moore’s two hats.

“If things stay the same, then I can safely say that democracy is damaged,” he said. “By changing it, democracy will be improved in the sense that we’ll get proper representation, proper oversight.”

Mr Young recalls fighting to preserve the Rushcutters Bay Cottage in 2010 which ended with the historic building’s removal. “We were able to get five councillors on side, it was a five-all vote and she used her casting vote to order the demolition. So our MP acted against our interests entirely.”

While in a disagreement over Fitzroy Gardens, the resident sought support from above.

“We had to get assistance from some high-powered people, we actually had to go to our federal member Malcolm Turnbull. He came on side and we had a big protest,” Mr Young said. “It proves how effective the use of the MP can be when you’re in dispute with council over an issue.”

“When Clover herself was a sole role MP … she made [hundreds of] representations on behalf of constituents to the South Sydney council and she often attended council meetings to speak as MP,” he said.

Some have claimed Ms Moore’s situation is a conflict of interest but she said: “No it’s a confluence of interests. I can advocate for people in Parliament and if I’ve not been successful I can move a private member’s bill or a motion or ask questions and put them on the spot.”

“If [Mr O’Farrell] had any serious concern about conflict, he should be concerned about the 60 MPs who have a private conflict. They have a private business or a medical practice or a legal practice … or a farm. That’s a private interest which could interfere with their public duty,” she said.

Dr Smith said there is not a particularly strong conflict of interest argument since there are other avenues of recourse. He said constituents can approach their Ombudsman, the Privacy Commissioner, the Land and Environment Court or their federal MP.

“In some ways the system of government we have, and in other states, is to really take that advocacy work out of the hands of MPs and to give it to a whole range of independent statutory bodies.”

Randwick councillor and Member for Coogee, Bruce Notley-Smith said he supports the move toward banning the dual roles.

“I think there should be a separation of roles. I believe there’s a number of conflicts which can arise. When you’re a member of a council, in some ways you’re hamstrung in how you critique it as a state MP,” he said.

“Local government should be scrutinizing the performance of its local state member and the state member should be scrutinizing the performance of local government and there should be arms-length separation between the two.”

Cr Notley-Smith said he plans to only run for a state seat in the next election.

Ms Moore said she is the only MP who has announced she will also run for council. “All the other councillors have had a finger pointed at them by the premier, but they won’t, they’ve all fallen into line.”