Attack on councillor

BY RICHARD PAYNE

SHELLHARBOUR'S Cr Don Briggs has launched a stinging attack on fellow councillor Barry Bird, accusing the Killalea Trust member of leaking information to the Aboriginal Lands Council.

Cr Briggs claims his concerns stem from last months Killalea Trust briefing of Shellharbour councillors in regards to the proposed 52-year lease agreement for a tourist resort at the state park, during which Cr Briggs alleges Cr Bird admitted to briefing the Aboriginal Lands Council on private information regarding the proposal.

"He openly admitted to keeping them in the loop, despite Shellharbour Councillors not being privy to that same information," Cr Briggs said.

"Why would he tell one organisation all the details and not the one that is paying him to keep the interest of the community?

"It depends on the nature of the information, but we can't tell at the moment because we don't know what it is

"No one will tell us.

"We are trying to stem the flow of information from council at the moment and here is one guy who has freely admitted to giving information.

"I think, at the very least, we need a "?please explain' and Mr Bird should clarify his position.

"It is time he asked himself who he is serving."

Refuting the allegations levelled against him, Cr Bird claims that Cr Briggs is "playing games," and has "no idea at all".

Cr Bird said he had informed the briefing he had been in conversation with the Aboriginal Advisory Committee (of which he is a member), in regards to an upcoming vacant position on the Killalea Trust.

"I have no idea what he is going on about," Cr Bird said. "It was not even the Lands Council I was talking about.

"It was the advisory committee, so he really has no clue at all.

"I cannot understand how he thinks that Shellharbour Council has not been briefed on the development.

" That is what the meeting was when these events took place - a briefing for council. "There has been no breach at all.

"He has his facts completely wrong.

"I simply informed the meeting I had told the committee of two positions on the trust that had already been advertised in the paper.

" There is certainly no breach in doing that."

Cr Briggs said he intended to bring the matter up at the next Labor caucus meeting.