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Labor councillor Cameron Maclean has been elected lord mayor of Parramatta with a single deciding vote from Liberal defector Tanya Raffoul, while independent Kellie Darley was elected deputy mayor.
Labor councillor Cameron Maclean has been elected lord mayor of Parramatta, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the position at age 28. He won the mayoralty on a single vote cast by councillor Tanya Raffoul, who quit the Liberal Party on Monday morning.
Liberal councillor quits party over multiculturalism concerns
Late last night independent councillor Kellie Darley was elected deputy mayor at the same council meeting. Raffoul announced her departure from the Liberal Party just hours before the vote, citing concerns that it was becoming more anti-multiculturalism. In a statement published on social media, she said the party's growing policy and values alignment with a divisive political party was disappointing. She said the willingness to marginalise multicultural Australians, particularly across Western Sydney, was disappointing.
Multicultural communities across Western Sydney are one of our greatest strengths, made up of proud Australians like me who deserve to be represented and respected, she said. Raffoul confirmed she was not resigning from the council and would continue to serve as a councillor for the Dundas ward. Maclean told 702 ABC Sydney there was no deal made with Raffoul. He said she really believes and sincerely believes that the Liberal Party is going the wrong direction.
He added that it was not for him to put words in Tanya's mouth. I thank her for her support and her courage because it's a big deal, he said. It's a big move to resign from a political party and do something of this nature. So I thank her for her support, but there was no deal.
Maclean elected youngest lord mayor of Parramatta
During the testy and teary meeting, Raffoul, who had kept a solemn downward stare, only looked up during the vote to make eye contact with her Liberal ex-colleagues as she raised her hand to vote for Maclean. Maclean defeated Liberal councillor Martin Zaiter, who had served in the position for a year. Zaiter described his time leading the council as an extraordinary term with many ups and many downs.
Thank you for working together as one along our journey to become Australia's next global city, Zaiter told councillors before the vote. Maclean said he accepted the position with great humility, telling Raffoul she had demonstrated immense integrity and courage under fire for her defection and vote. He was first elected to council in 2021 and replaces outgoing mayor Zaiter, who had been in the role since 2024.
Liberal councillor Steven Issa told Maclean that what he hoped more than anything was that his resolve was strengthened, a supposed reference to Maclean's decision to abstain on an earlier vote. Independent Kellie Darley, who has also identified herself as a whistleblower about council staff, was nominated for deputy mayor by Zaiter and Liberal councillor Sreeni Pillamarri. She won against Labor councillor Michael Ng by two votes, with the council's departing deputy mayor, independent Charles Chen, abstaining.
New deputy mayor Kellie Darley highlights whistleblower protections
The first motion Darley raised as deputy mayor was about strengthening protections for whistleblowers at the council. My children aren't here to see me being elected as deputy mayor, she said through tears. And that's because one of the consequences for me, of what happened in the reprisal action, is the impact to my now-former marriage, and that every day I am reminded of that impact.
Darley's election came just over a year after she won a court battle with the council. The meeting also heard from a former staff member identifying himself as a whistleblower whose reports to the ICAC triggered scrutiny. Former head of IT at the council John Crawford, who gave evidence at the public inquiry, told the meeting he had faced retaliation after giving his evidence.
He claimed he had been subjected to retaliation action after his evidence, including the alleged spreading of a dirt file against him leading to numerous media articles. It has created serious risk to my career and reputation, and I have very limited practical means for responding, he said, receiving a standing ovation from councillors and members of the public gallery. He spoke in support of Darley's motion.
The council has faced intense scrutiny this year in the Independent Commission Against Corruption's Operation Navarra, which investigated allegations about former CEO Gail Connolly. Maclean told 702 ABC Sydney he was committed to greater transparency at the council. It shouldn't be that hard to do the right thing and you shouldn't feel that you have to endure punitive measures when you do, he said. We have to make staff feel safe and valued within the organisation.
By the time Zaiter had walked out of the chamber, his staff had removed the words Lord Mayor from his name on Facebook.
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abcnews:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Parramatta Cameron Maclean Lord Mayor Council Defection Whistleblower Parramatta City Council Cameron Maclean Lord Mayor Tanya Raffoul Liberal Defection Kellie Darley Deputy Mayor ICAC Operation Navarra
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