Friday 12 May 2017

There might be an answer to the portrait saga

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

A community outcry has forced Lake Macquarie City Council into action over the portraits of former councillors who've since been convicted of child sex offences.

Lake Macquarie Council was under a considerable amount of pressure yesterday after their refusal to remove portraits of convicted sex offenders from the council chamber.

At the end of last year, the council decided on a gag order for a confidential meeting regarding whether or not portraits of councillors convicted of sex offences should stay hanging or on council asset plaques.

It's understood a majority of councillors voted down the motion to remove all photographs and plaques of disgraced former Mayor Douglas Carley and councillor turned state MP Milton Orkopoulos.

NOW, a picture of disgraced former Mayor, Douglas Carley has been taken down from the foyer of council chambers but pictures of Carley and Milton Orkopoulos remain on the walls of a meeting room.

The room will be closed to the public while council decides on a policy when it comes to historical pictures of former councillors.