Western Metropolitan MP Cesar Melhem has called on Brimbank residents to give a ‘fair go’ to Natalie Suleyman, a former mayor and the Labor candidate for the state seat of St Albans.
His comments follow concern expressed by the Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association (SunRRA) about Ms Suleyman’s candidacy for the area, widely considered a Labor stronghold.
SunRRA president Darlene Reilly said there was a sense of dread in the community that there would be a return to the style of governance for the area that led to the dismissal of Brimbank council, with which Ms Suleyman was a councillor.
“We’re also scared she will seek revenge against us because of our involvement with the Ombudsman’s report,” Ms Reilly said.
Ms Suleyman was part of a Victorian Ombudsman investigation into claims of improper conduct by Brimbank councillors. The Ombudsman’s report, and a subsequent report by Local Government Inspector Bill Scales, led to the sacking of the council in 2009.
The reports found, among other allegations, that the St Albans branch of the ALP tried to influence councillors who were also members of the Labor Party to vote in a certain way.
But despite the Ombudsman’s report and numerous investigations, no former councillors were prosecuted.
Mr Melhem asked voters to take heed of this finding in the November state election. “She’d be a good local member and people should give her a fair go,” he said. Sunshine resident Lisa Asbury will contest the new state seat of St Albans for the Greens in the November election. The Liberal party is yet to decide on a candidate.
Greens MLC Colleen Hartland said she would campaign strongly for Ms Asbury, but believed Ms Suleyman would win. “I hope she treats the local people with more respect than when she was on the council,” she said. “Maybe she’s changed.”
Ms Suleyman declined to comment.
