Absent Sutherland Shire councillor attended union rally in Brussels

A Facebook post two days before the crucial mayoral vote showed Greg McLean protesting with other union members against the Trans Pacific Partnership, a trade deal between the US, Australia and nine other Pacific Rim countries.

Mr McLean is an assistant national secretary of the Australian Services Union, which says he is on long service leave.

His absence from the new council’s first meeting left Labor with only six votes to the Liberals’ seven.

Independent Steve Simpson voted with Labor to force a lucky draw for the mayor and deputy mayor positions.

Liberal councillor Carmelo Pesce’s name was pulled out for the top job and Labor’s Peter Scaysbrook won the draw for deputy mayor.

Under recently-passed laws, the positions are for two years, instead of the previous one-year terms.

Labor councillors said after the meeting Cr McLean was overseas for family reasons, but woronoravalley.com revealed his Brussels visit.

Chairman of the Labor caucus Peter Scaysbrook said Cr McLean had combined a visit with his wife to her mother, who is in her 90s, in England with the trade union rally in Brussels.

Cr Scaysbrook said he was satisfied personal reasons were Cr McLean’s principal reason for being overseas.

“We looked at trying to bring him back for the meeting, but it was very difficult logistically and also very expensive.

“We run our campaign on a very small budget and we don’t have money for that sort of thing.”

Cr Scaysbrook said the Labor group also believed Cr Simpson would not necessarily have voted for their nominees, but may have abstained, if the two parties had their full numbers.

“Cr Simpson has always placed the interests of residents above politics,” he said.

“In forcing a  ‘draw from the hat’, he ensured that the verdict expressed by residents in the election was reflected in the mayoral vote."