Councillors linked to assassin face jail: Carr

By Stephen Gibbs (Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 9 March 2001)

The Premier, Bob Carr, threatened yesterday to jail any council member found to be under the influence of political assassin Phuong Ngo.

As the State Government announced it is to look into possible inappropriate links between Ngo and Fairfield Council, Mr Carr said any corrupt councillors identified by the investigation would be severely punished.

"If anyone can present a scintilla of evidence that Phuong Ngo had any influence over council decisions there'll not only be an inquiry, the council will be dismissed," he said.

"And if the evidence justifies it, they'll all be locked up in jail. They won't have to go to prison to visit him, they will be there in the cell next door."

The Minister for Local Government, Harry Woods, yesterday said that two investigators would interview councillors and council staff next week then forward any information they gathered to police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The inquiry comes after revelations Ngo, sentenced to life last November for organising the 1994 assassination of Cabramatta MP John Newman, invited some of his former colleagues on Fairfield Council to attend a Chinese New Year party at Long Bay jail last month.

The Premier, Bob Carr, initially dismissed the Sun-Herald report as "a ridiculous beat-up".

But yesterday, he said any Fairfield councillor found to be under the influence of Ngo, sentenced to life last November for the 1994 assassination of Cabramatta MP John Newman, would by locked up in a cell next to him.

A report released on Tuesday by the Corrective Services Commissioner, Ron Woodham, stated three councillors, who had previously visited Ngo a total of 14 times, were at the party in the Metropolitan Medical Transit Centre on February 21.

Mr Woodham and his minister, Richard Amery, have admitted that Ngo had an inappropriate influence upon the party guest list, which included 30 invited guests as well as 80 prisoners.

Mr Woods said the terms of reference of the inquiry were: "To investigate whether there has been any improper influence on the conduct or activities of Fairfield City Council".

"These are serious allegations and I expect the councillors and council staff to co-operate fully with the department," Mr Woods said.

"This is a very serious matter and we must ascertain what evidence there is of improper behaviour, and the full details of any allegation against either councillors or members of staff.

"Should the police or the ICAC find evidence of criminal activity, then the council will be removed."

While Mr Carr was vehement that any wrongdoing would be severely punished, he had not yet seen any evidence linking Ngo with the current council's decision-making.

"I think we'd really need some evidence that he influenced council decisions," he said.

Fairfield councillors Maria Heggie, Thang Ngo and Peter Cork had called for the inquiry, supported by the State Opposition.

The Leader of the Opposition, Kerry Chikarovksi, said the inquiry should be thorough, speedy and transparent and also look at any business contacts between Ngo and the council.

"The Premier said this [story] was a beat-up by the media," Mrs Chikarovski said. "Clearly councillors in Fairfield think differently; the community thinks differently."