Dr Jackson’s evidence on Day 9 provided a historical perspective on his time at Liverpool City Council, covering his roles, the political shifts during his tenure, and specific events around leadership transitions. I’ve broken down the key points into straightforward terms, focusing on what should concern us as ratepayers funding a budget exceeding $530 million annually.
Background and Roles at Liverpool City Council
Dr Thomas Edwin (Eddie) Jackson currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Flinders Shire Council in north-west Queensland. He joined Liverpool City Council in December 2014 as Manager of Community Development and Planning. By March 2016, he stepped into the Acting Director of Community and Culture role while Kiersten Fishburn was on maternity leave, and was permanently appointed to that position in May 2017. Between April 2017 and August 2019, he was seconded to the Western Sydney City Deal, a complex initiative involving eight local councils, State and Federal Governments, and major projects like the Western Sydney Airport and aerotropolis development. He left Liverpool in June 2020. His earlier career in Northern Ireland included significant work during the peace process, with roles in public sector reform, economic development, and international investment attraction post-Belfast Agreement, alongside academic credentials including a PhD from the University of Ulster focusing on social policy responses to political conflict.
Dr Jackson described working under two different council compositions. From 2014 to 2016, the council elected in 2012 was led by Mayor Ned Mannoun, with Councillor Peter Ristevski (both Liberal Party members) also serving. Initially, their relationship appeared cordial, with Ristevski possibly as deputy mayor (though Jackson wasn’t certain). However, by March 2016, when Jackson became Acting Director and attended council meetings, their relationship had deteriorated significantly. He witnessed confrontational behaviour on the council chamber floor, with both Mannoun and Ristevski raising voices, shouting over each other, and the Mayor attempting to eject Ristevski on occasion. This unprofessional conduct necessitated security guards at meetings and drew active opposition from trade unions against proposed changes, creating a tumultuous environment. No apparent efforts were made to resolve these conflicts before the council term ended in mid-2016.
In June 2016, a new council was elected with Wendy Waller as Mayor (Labor Party), shifting the balance to a Labor majority (including councillors Ali Karnib, Nathan Hagarty, Jeff Shelton, and Charishma Kaliyanda) if the Mayor’s casting vote was used, alongside Liberal councillors (Mazhar Hadid, Gus Balloot, Tony Hadchiti, Tina Ayyad) and independents (Peter Harle, Karress Rhodes). A majority required six votes out of eleven (ten councillors plus the directly elected Mayor). For us ratepayers, this political friction and public discord between key figures like Mannoun and Ristevski are troubling. Such hostility at the top level likely distracted from decision-making for community benefit, potentially stalling services while our rates funded a dysfunctional leadership environment.
Leadership Transition and CEO Contract Decision
Dr Jackson discussed the transition of CEO roles during his time. After Carl Wulff’s departure at the end of the 2012-2016 council term, Michael Cullen briefly served as Acting CEO. Kiersten Fishburn returned from maternity leave, was appointed Acting CEO by Mayor Waller in October 2016, and permanently confirmed in December 2016 following a public recruitment process. In February 2020, the council decided not to renew Fishburn’s contract, set to expire in December 2020. A confidential council report from that month, moved by Councillor Ayyad and seconded by Councillor Kaliyanda (with Councillor Shelton voting against), acknowledged Fishburn’s contributions and leadership but stated that a newly elected council should have the chance to select its CEO. The decision was not an immediate termination but a refusal to automatically renew, effectively opening the position for new applications—a “spill” of the role. The Mayor was directed to notify Fishburn in writing within 48 hours.
As ratepayers, this frequent turnover in top leadership raises red flags. Changing CEOs often comes with significant costs—potential payouts for early contract endings (though not specified here) and recruitment expenses, all drawn from our rates. The lack of continuity can disrupt long-term planning for community needs, risking delays or mismanagement of projects vital to Liverpool’s growth. With a standard contract term potentially up to five years (though Fishburn’s was noted as four), such decisions impact stability, and we bear the financial burden if things go awry.
Why This Matters to Liverpool Residents
For those of us contributing rates in Liverpool, Day 9’s testimony from Dr Eddie Jackson highlights serious issues with council governance and financial stewardship. The stark political divisions and public confrontations between leaders like Mayor Mannoun and Councillor Ristevski during 2016 suggest a council more focused on internal battles than on serving our interests. This kind of dysfunction likely hindered effective decision-making, meaning our rates might not have been used as efficiently as they should for local services or infrastructure across our suburbs.
Even more concerning is the pattern of leadership turnover, as seen with the decision not to renew Kiersten Fishburn’s contract in 2020. Frequent changes at the CEO level can lead to hefty costs—whether through payouts or recruitment processes—that come out of our pockets. Without stable leadership, there’s a risk of inconsistent priorities or stalled initiatives, directly affecting the quality of life in our community. Our rates, supporting a budget over $530 million, deserve to fund a council that operates smoothly, not one bogged down by politics or costly transitions.
We encourage all Liverpool residents to stay informed by watching the inquiry’s live stream or reviewing online transcripts. This is our opportunity to ensure our council focuses on our needs rather than internal strife or expensive missteps. We will keep providing updates on each day’s developments, and we would appreciate hearing your thoughts or experiences with council services—your perspective helps tell this story. Don’t forget to tune into 89.3 every Thursday at 9am with Michael and BJ on The Pulse for the latest local news and updates on these hearings and call us from 9:30am with your views on the public hearings on 9822 8893.
