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Thursday, 6 February, 2020
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School goes into lockdown
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Preps take first steps to school By Brendan Rees
Tasmitha and Lucas 203861
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Preps at Berwick's Brentwood Park Primary School have celebrated their first day of school. Wearing new shoes and sporting backpacks nearly twice their size, the 143 freshfaced Preppies embraced the start of their education journey on Thursday 30 January. Assistant principal Jo-Anne Doran said it was the "most settled" class of Preps they've had for a while with "no tears". They enjoyed an array of fun activities and "loved playing on the pirate ship," Ms Doran said, as students ventured to the playground. For more coverage turn to page 21
Sam strikes back A key figure in an IBAC corruption investigation and a former Casey mayor has taken aim at his fellow councillors after they reluctantly granted a request for extended paid leave. At a public council meeting on Tuesday 4 February, councillors voted for embattled councillor Sam Aziz a leave of absence until 31 March citing medical grounds. Cr Aziz is one of the keys players in the Casey land scandal where it's alleged he pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars from a developer in exchange for favourable planning decisions. Cr Aziz made a dash to Egypt last Novem-
ber before the Independent Broad-based Anticorruption Commission (IBAC) conducted its hearings. Casey mayor Susan Serey said at the meeting the decision to grant Cr Aziz had "not been made lightly," and "the situation is less than ideal". She said council was bound by their obligations under the Local Government Act, which fell "far short from what I know our community expects. "Councillors around the table feel the same way," Cr Serey said. "Having considered the medical advice provided by Cr Aziz in support of his application, as well as the legal advice which has re-
iterated our obligation to not unreasonably refuse leave, believe we had no alternative to do otherwise. "I want to stress that my councillor colleagues sitting around this table wouldn't have voted for this motion unless it had potentially other serious legal implications for the city of Casey and its ratepayers," Cr Serey said. In a Facebook message, Cr Aziz hit back at the mayor, labelling her statement as "denigrating". "Tonight council approved a further leave of absence for me after I submitted a detailed medical report explaining why I am not able to return to duty at this stage," Cr Aziz's statement said.
"That was a report and not just a 'medical certificate'. "I have remained deliberately silent since this ordeal started in November last year, in what has become a media circus, and a savage feeding frenzy by certain fringe groups and keyboard warriors, who have always had an axe to grind," his statement read. "It appears that sober and fair assessment has completely gone out the window, despite the undeniable success of the City of Casey, and our obvious record in delivering world class infrastructure and excellent services for our residents, supported by a very efficient and financially lean administration". Continued page 3
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