By Kristy McDonald
NAME calling and brawling is continuing over alleged political activities at Brimbank ratepayer-funded facilities.
The Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association said Brimbank City Council had been hypocritical in its accusations of ALP branch stacking through the Sydenham Soccer Club.
SunRRA president Darlene Reilly said the association had previously raised similar concerns after the council had allowed an ethnic group to use council facilities rent-free.
The Australian Turkish Cypriot Cultural and Welfare Association, headed by former mayor Natalie Suleyman’s father, Hakki Suleyman, used premises at 76 Biggs St, St Albans, for more than four years, rent-free.
“After SunRRA raised this issue, it was brought before the council and a ‘peppercorn’ rent of $1200 per year was granted,” Ms Reilly said.
“We are now aware that this property is being advertised as the Maribyrnong branch for the Australian Labor Party, as published on the internet.”
“It is outrageous, a council property is being used for the purpose of ALP branch meetings, joining the ALP and an office of the ALP is subsidised by the ratepayers of Brimbank,” Ms Reilly said.
“Do we know if the Biggs St branch practises branch stacking?”
Correspondence from the SunRRA demanding answers on these issues was tabled at Wednesday night’s ordinary Brimbank Council meeting.
Councillor Marilyn Zukalski said the questions about the Biggs St location were a baseless, personal attack on Cr Suleyman, with the simple intention to embarrass her.
She said the behaviour of the public gallery was “bizarre” and an investigation into political activities at the Keilor Lodge Reserve was still warranted. “It was quite bizarre how the clubs were all set up there to hoon, it’s weird to bring that many people into the chamber,” she said.
“The comments on (Cr Suleyman’s) father were a hit below the belt, a personal attack against her.
“They’re insinuating she’s got some vendetta against them, but everyone’s got a right to do what they have to in council.”
Cr Zukalski was tightlipped when asked whether she believed the allegations of political activity at the Sydenham club.
Star: Do you believe the Sydenham Soccer Club and Keilor Reserve are being used for political branch stacking by the ALP?
Cr Zukalski: Yes.
Star: Do you have any evidence to support that allegation?
Cr Zukalski: No.
Star: Has, is or will the council be conducting an investigation into alleged political activities at the club?
Cr Zukalski: I’d like to see an investigation into anything going on down there.
Cr Zukalski said she did not want to see the Sydenham club “kicked off” the reserve, but equitable use made of the facility. “There was an original motion that I put a couple of meetings back, to investigate use of the ground, the process of how they came to be at the ground; I haven’t seen a lease or a licence or anything, I don’t know if they’ve got a lease, it’s something I’ll be looking into. But when the EOI comes up, I don’t want to kick them out, I just want them to share the ground. I got smirked at because I want them to share the ground.”
Star was unable to contact Cr Natalie Suleyman for comment before deadline.
