The inquiry into Liverpool City Council has revealed serious accusations against Mayor Ned Mannoun, who is alleged to have “weaponised” social media comments regarding pork. This claim was made by independent councillor Peter Ristevski, Mannoun’s long-time political adversary, during a session that scrutinised the mayor’s conduct and the tensions within the council.
During the inquiry conducted by the New South Wales (NSW) Office of Local Government, Mannoun’s legal representatives challenged Ristevski over “highly offensive and racist” remarks that surfaced on his Facebook page. Ristevski, who has three years remaining in his term, defended his social media usage, asserting that it falls within the realm of free speech. He stated, “Until I’m told otherwise, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with free speech in this country, and I encourage it.”
The ongoing inquiry has highlighted a growing rift between Mannoun, a member of the Liberal Party, and Ristevski, who was initially elected under the same party but has since aligned with independent and Labor councillors following a fallout in 2015. This division has reportedly disrupted the functionality of the council.
Tensions escalated last April when union members staged a protest against Mannoun, chanting “Put some pork on your fork” and displaying a toy pig. Such actions were fueled by false rumors regarding job losses at the council. For Muslims, pork is considered unclean and is forbidden, making these comments particularly sensitive for Mannoun.
In a recent session of the inquiry, Ristevski’s Facebook post concerning a proposed $11 million mosque in Austral drew scrutiny. A user commented, “I heard that place was a pig farm,” to which Ristevski replied, “that would be very ironic.” Another commenter suggested, “Ban the lot, we are a Christian country,” prompting Ristevski to respond with prayer hands and Australian flag emojis. When questioned about whether he was aware of Mannoun’s sensitivities to remarks about pigs and pork, Ristevski claimed, “He weaponised them.”
Counsel assisting the inquiry, Trish McDonald, SC, noted the mayor’s evident offense at such comments. Ristevski dismissed the notion that his remarks were intended to echo previous disparaging comments directed at Mannoun. He firmly rejected the idea that he was participating in the negative discourse surrounding the mayor.
When pressed by Mannoun’s lawyer, Kate Richardson, SC, Ristevski stated that he did not have the capacity to review the multitude of comments on his social media posts. “This is a free country … People can say what they like,” he stated, emphasizing his belief in free speech despite the offensive nature of some comments.
Richardson suggested that instead of solely cross-examining Ristevski, a “rival version of events” should be presented by Mannoun, who has yet to provide evidence in the inquiry.
Ristevski disclosed that he had previously employed a team in Macedonia to manage his social media posts, allowing them creative freedom to engage with the public. He highlighted the cost-effectiveness of this arrangement, stating it was “cheaper to have a team in Macedonia on €500 (approximately $880) a month than it is to have someone in Australia on $5,000.”
He further noted the absence of formal training for local councillors, suggesting that enhanced education on social media management and addressing psychosocial incidents could benefit officials in similar positions. The inquiry into Liverpool City Council continues, with further developments expected as it unfolds.
