Former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore has told a corruption inquiry that a handshake agreement over the council’s leadership was followed by a breakdown in relations with fellow Labor councillors Sharangan Maheswaran and Karen Pensabene.
Giving evidence to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Blackmore said the trio had agreed he would serve as mayor for the first year of the council term before a Labor councillor, most likely Pensabene, took over for the remainder.
Blackmore ultimately did not honour the arrangement. When counsel assisting, Hugo Wilesmith, asked whether he had intended to keep the agreement, Blackmore replied: “No.”
He agreed that he had signed a separate document supporting councillor Nella Hall as mayor to placate her after she became angry and demanded his backing.
Blackmore’s relationship with Maheswaran and Pensabene deteriorated after he sacked the council’s general manager about six weeks into his term, in March 2022, the inquiry heard.
Before the dismissal, the three councillors had joined each other for drinks or dinner after council meetings. Afterwards, they barely spoke, Blackmore said.
ICAC inquiry examines Strathfield council conduct
Blackmore is giving evidence as ICAC investigates whether Maheswaran and Pensabene engaged in dishonest conduct, including blackmail or possible surveillance, while they served on Strathfield Council.
He is not a person of interest in Operation Rosny. Pensabene remains on the council, while Maheswaran, a former senior executive and lawyer for developer Jean Nassif, is no longer a councillor.
Nassif was due to appear before the commission by video link from Lebanon. His appearance had been rescheduled once after he cited health concerns, and he is wanted in Australia on serious fraud charges.
Blackmore was also questioned about his dealings with property developer Charlie Demian, who was pursuing a development in Homebush. The pair were introduced by former Strathfield mayor Antoine Doueihi.
They met mainly at a Homebush café, where Demian expressed frustration that his development was not progressing. Blackmore said Demian had also met Maheswaran, whom he believed would support the project.
Asked whether Demian had tried to lobby him, Blackmore replied: “Yes.” He said, however, that he had not considered the meetings something he needed to disclose as a potential conflict of interest.
