Voice of Byron

WIL CONSTABLE, a long term Mullumbimby resident and Labor candidate in the upcoming council elections, is calling for a ban on all real estate agents and developers from being able to run for council.

Mr Constable says, “It has been long-standing Labor policy to place a ban on real estate agents and developers from running for local government and we are calling for this ban to be introduced into Byron Shire. It is unrealistic to think that real estate agents and developers can totally remove their conflict of interest on the planning decisions of Council.”

“We saw the result of The Greens nominating a real estate agent, Rose Wanchap, as part of their team for Council in 2012. This decision by The Greens meant that while the community voted for a progressive council, we got a conservative one. It has meant that council has made key decisions in favour of developers and the property industry, and against the best interests of our community.

“There are a record number of real estate agents running for council this election, with at least four running across each of the conservative tickets. If they are elected, whose interest will they serve? It’s time to get these vested interests out of our council.”

“Labor is proud that we have a team that represents all areas of our shire and have no candidates that are either real estate agents or property developers.”

“We are asking all voters in Byron Shire to think about who they want representing them after this election. We are asking them to put the community first and to put the vested interests of the property industry last.”

The Labor team has started a petition calling for real estate agents and property developers to be banned from running for Byron Shire council.

It can be found here https://www.change.org/p/the-nsw-government-real-estate-agents-and-property-developers-to-be-banned-from-running-for-local-council