To: To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales
Restore Safety & Good Governance at Liverpool City Council
REQUEST:
The petitioners ask the Legislative Assembly to:
The petitioners ask the Legislative Assembly to:
- Call on the Minister for Local Government to act on the findings of the Public Inquiry without delay;
- Urge the Mayor and councillors to cease conduct that places council employees at risk;
- Strengthen protections for council employees against political conduct that exposes them to community hostility, harassment or threats; and
- Affirm the right of every council employee in NSW to a safe, respectful and stable workplace.
The petition of concerned citizens of NSW, including employees and residents of Liverpool, brings to the attention of the House that:
- In 2024 the NSW Government ordered a Public Inquiry into Liverpool City Council, citing “widespread dysfunction and maladministration” and “distress among staff”. The Inquiry remains on foot in 2026.
- In May 2026 the Industrial Relations Commission was asked to make a Stop Bullying Order against the Mayor, Councillor Ned Mannoun, after his public statements placed council employees at risk of community hostility, harassment and threats of violence.
- More than half of surveyed staff have considered leaving the Council. Workers have publicly reported being shot at and harassed amid the ongoing turmoil.
- Council resolutions threatening jobs and the abolition of entire departments — while the Inquiry is on foot — have caused profound distress to employees and undermined services to the community.
Why is this important?
Liverpool City Council workers deserve to feel safe at work and supported while serving their community. Instead, ongoing dysfunction, public hostility and political conduct have created a workplace environment where staff report distress, harassment and fear for their safety.
More than half of surveyed staff have considered leaving the Council. When experienced council workers are driven out, the whole community feels the impact — from parks and libraries to roads, planning, customer service and support for vulnerable residents.
Liverpool deserves a council that is safe, stable and properly functioning for both workers and the community. This petition calls for action to restore safety, good governance and public confidence at Liverpool City Council.
