A Sydney councillor is facing suspension from the NSW Liberal party for giving a radio interview critical of elected party officials, including claiming one has a criminal record.
An internal memo obtained by Fairfax shows members of the party's powerful state executive had until noon Monday to vote on a motion to suspend Liverpool councillor Peter Ristevski for a free-ranging and explosive radio interview early this month.
The development caps a long-running and ugly battle for control of a party branch in the western suburbs.
Mr Ristevski and allies recently attained control of the party's Moorebank branch, at the expense of his colleagues and rivals state MP Melanie Gibbons and Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun. At stake are critical votes in determining who the party endorses for local council, state and federal elections.
The struggle has sent muck flying in both directions.
Mr Mannoun accused Mr Ristevski last month of bringing the party into disrepute for allegedly associating with Tony "The Falcon" Atanasovski, a convicted drug dealer, after they were pictured at a fundraiser for Ms Gibbons.
(Now-Treasurer Scott Morrison was also pictured with Mr Atanasovski but there is no suggestion he knew of his criminal history).
That story led to Mr Ristevski being invited on Fairfax's 2UE radio station, where he denied any friendship but also returned serve.
Mr Ristevski said Atanasovski disputed claims that party officials had torn up his credit card payment at the fundraiser and said the party had in fact accepted his contribution.
This, Mr Ristevski said on 2UE, "could open up a can of worms for [Melanie Gibbons MP]". That remark, party officials said in the memo, carried the clear imputation the party had not properly disclosed donations.
Mr Ristevski then made reference to Ms Gibbons' 2012 conviction for failing to lodge electoral donation returns, for which she was placed on a 15-month good behaviour bond, warning that "she [would...] be in all sorts of trouble" for any further missteps.
Finally, Mr Ristevski made reference to an unnamed elected Liberal party official who "has a criminal record for theft" that he did not disclose to party officials.
The official's name is not contained in transcripts of that interview. But a memo sent to the Liberal state executive says the reference is believed "to be Mr Ned Mannoun, the Mayor of Liverpool".
Mr Mannoun denied having any criminal record, or history of criminal conviction.
"[But] I have never hidden from the party at any stage I got into trouble with the police [between the ages of] 15 and 17," Mr Mannoun said.
Mr Mannoun said he had been "minimal[ly] involved" in the theft of items from a tuck shop and received "stolen cans of Sprite" at the age of 16 but had no conviction recorded.
The motion argues that Mr Ristevski's comments amount to a breach of the party's media policy because they would damage its reputation, embarrass its leadership and reduce its chances of success in an election.
Members of the state executive were asked to vote on whether to suspend Cr Ristevski and also postpone a major meeting of the Moorebank branch, pending an "investigation into current issues in the branch".
NSW Liberal party members are not permitted to speak to journalists.
A recent annual general meeting of the Moorebank branch led Ms Gibbons to apply for a restraining order against a branch member, Jose Stojcevski, who is alleged to have yelled across the room "I'll kill you".
Ms Gibbons is understood to have told friends she fears for her safety. Mr Stojcevski's lawyer has described the allegation as "frivolous and vexatious" and said it will be "vigorously defended".
