Leichhardt Council in election deadlock

Conjecture and innuendo surrounds the final formation of Leichhardt Council, after a three-way tie arose when the voting count finished last week.

Labor, the Liberals and the Greens have each won four positions on Council, taking one seat each from all of the four wards: Balmain, Rozelle, Leichhardt and Annandale Ward. While the last term of government saw the Greens return a majority stronghold, an unlikely alliance between the Liberals and Labor remains a possibility.

The parties’ have history in the municipality after they brokered a deal in 2004, leaving the Greens out in the cold. Between 2004 and 2008, the term heralded in four different Mayors, alternating between Labor and Liberal candidates.

Despite speculation Labor and the Liberals had already formed an alliance and an announcement was imminent, Labor Candidate Darcy Byrne abruptly quashed the rumors in emphatic style. In a press statement titled ‘Liberal councillor is wrong and arrogant’, Mr Byrne stressed no-one from the Inner West Courier had spoken with any Labor councillors before publication of their article on the supposed deal last Thursday.

Mr Byrne said: “After 20 years in the NSW Upper House, it seems Mr Jobling has developed a ‘born to rule mentality’. If Barry O’Farrell thinks he can send his cronies to run the show at Leichhardt Council, he has another thing coming.”

The dissolution of the Labor/Liberal coalition came as a surprise to current Mayor Rochelle Porteous. On the announcement of a tie, Ms Porteous automatically assumed the Labor Party and the Liberals would broker a deal.

Both Labor and the Greens’ candidates would not comment on whether the two parties were in negotiations. The same answer was provided by the Liberal Party, leaving the position of Mayor and control of Leichhardt Council a mystery. All three parties are desperate to form a deal to ensure they avoid spending four years as the minority.

When asked about party negotiations, Liberal Councillor Vera-Ann Hannaford evasively replied: “I am happy to work with anyone on Council as long as it is for the benefit of the local community.”

While it is highly likely an alliance will form, which parties will pair up is uncertain and may not be finalised until the Leichhardt Council Mayoral elections on September 25.