EXCLUSIVE
Wyndham councillor Intaj Khan has been cleared of allegations that he misused his position on council by promoting his private business interests in a council-branded advertisement.
As revealed by Star Weekly, a resident lodged a complaint with the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate last September over an advertisement in the July 2014 edition of Alwasat, a western suburbs-based Arabic newspaper.
The advertisement featured a photograph of Cr Khan, a Ramadan message, Wyndham council’s logo and web address, and a listing of three schools either owned or managed by Cr Khan.
A similar message appeared in Alwasat’s July 2013 edition but was not part of the complaint.
Both advertisements appeared without Wyndham council’s knowledge or approval.
Cr Khan has maintained that the advertisements were “free community greetings” to mark Ramadan, and that his businesses were mistakenly included in the advertisements.
The resident asked the Inspectorate to investigate whether Cr Khan had breached the Local Government Act.
Under the act, a person who is or has been a councillor must not misuse their position to “gain or attempt to gain any advantage for themselves or another person”.
The inspectorate launched its investigation into Cr Khan earlier this year and advised the council of its outcome this week.
A spokesman said the Inspectorate found no “prima facie” breach of the misuse of position provisions of the Local Government Act.
However, the Inspectorate noted that Cr Khan’s conduct may not have been in line with the councillor conduct principles.
It recommended that the council provide Cr Khan with comprehensive individual training on the role and responsibilities of a councillor.
“[The inspectorate] has recommended that council provide Cr Kahn with comprehensive individual training in the role and responsibilities of a councillor,” the spokesman said.
Council chief executive Kerry Thompson said the council would not be taking its own action against Cr Khan.
“Given that council’s own code of conduct is reflective of the provisions set out in the Act, any concerns around Cr Khan’s conduct have been dealt with by the Inspectorate,” she said.
