LGNSW President, Linda Scott says NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s refusal to meet with Sydney’s COVID-hit mayors and councillors is a breach of the intergovernmental agreement the Premier signed in 2019.
“Last week, City of Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour and I held a joint press conference to express our frustration with the Premier, who had rejected our request to meet with the 12 COVID-hit local government area mayors,” Cr Scott said.
“The meeting was meant to discuss the impacts of the State’s health orders as well as build consensus in facing down the devasting effects of the virus and subsequent lockdowns in our communities.”
She said the Premier’s decision breaches a commitment made in the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), which was signed by the Premier on behalf of the State Government in October 2019.
“In the IGA, the Premier promised to consult with us and our sector before any significant policy decisions were made and work with us to achieve positive outcomes for our communities,” said Cr Scott.

“I have received an outpouring of messages from mayors and councillors following the press conference expressing a feeling of being ignored by the NSW Government.
“All levels of government, and representatives of every political persuasion, want the same thing: to keep people safe and emerge on the other side of lockdown as quickly as possible. The NSW Government should be working with local government to achieve that.
“I am hopeful the Premier will reconsider her position and accept our offer to meet together soon.”