BOSSLEY Park resident has reported Fairfield Council to the NSW Ombudsman over its approval of the Assyrian genocide monument.
See photos of the reaction to council’s approval of the Assyrian monument

Adem Cetinay said the decision to approve the monument was made “to the exclusive benefit” of a number of councillors.

Councillors Anwar Khoshaba, Albert Mooshi, Andrew Rohan, Frank Oliveri, Zaya Toma and Samir Yousif all declared they knew people or had friends within the organisation that lodged the plans, the Assyrian Universal Alliance.

Councillors Khoshaba, Mooshi and Yousif first declared they each had “a very close relationship” with the applicant but later changed their declarations to say they knew the applicant or were friends with people in the Assyrian Universal Alliance.

All councillors who declared they knew the applicant, or people within the organisation, said the relationship would not affect their decision.

Mr Cetinay said the councillors who had relationships with members of the alliance should not have been able to vote on the plans.

“I think they should have done the right thing and stepped out of the room,” he said. “You cannot say they are friends with someone and not have a personal relationship with them.”

Mr Cetinay, who is a member of the Turkish community that strongly opposed plans for the monument, lodged letters of complaint with the Ombudsman and Local Government Minister Barbara Perry on Monday.

He hopes to have the council’s decision to approve the monument overturned. If he fails, the monument is set to be erected at the corner of Smithfield Rd and Elizabeth Drive in May.

A council spokeswoman said the onus was on councillors to declare their interests, and not on the council.

“Once a conflict of interest is identified it is up to the councillor to determine the appropriate action to manage the conflict in favour of their public duty,” she said. “This is a matter for each councillor to determine individually.”