Milad El-Halabi JP is an Australian former politician. He was a councillor on the City of Moreland (now known as the City of Merri-bek) in Victoria from 2004 until 2008, and again from 2020 until 2022.[1]
Milad El-Halabi | |
|---|---|
| Councillor of the City of Moreland for North-West Ward | |
| In office 17 November 2020 – 10 February 2022 | |
| Preceded by | John Kavanagh |
| Succeeded by | Monica Harte |
| In office 26 November 2004 – 29 November 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Ward created |
| Succeeded by | Enver Erdogan |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Independent Labor |
| Other political affiliations | Labor (suspended in 2022) |
In February 2022, El-Halabi resigned as a councillor after being charged with conspiracy to cheat and defraud for allegedly tampering with the council election in his ward.[2] It was later found that he had been unduly elected.[3]
Political career
editEl-Halabi was first elected to the City of Moreland in North-West Ward at the 2004 local elections. He was defeated in 2008, receiving 4.13% of the vote.[4]
He unsuccessfully contested the 2012 and 2016 local elections, receiving 3.22% and 3.78% of the vote respectively.[5]
At the 2020 local elections, El-Halabi returned to the council as the fourth councillor elected in North-West Ward.[1]
On 10 February 2022, El-Halabi was being charged by Victoria Police with conspiracy to cheat and defraud for allegedly tampering with the election in his ward.[2] He was suspended as a member of the Labor Party, then resigned as a councillor.[2] He was replaced via countback the following month by Socialist Alliance's Monica Harte.[6]
El-Halabi, his wife Dianna and his daughter Tania, were alleged to have stole multiple ballot papers and lodged them with the Victorian Electoral Commission, therefore prejudicing the election result.[7]
On 31 March 2023, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) found that El-Halabi was unduly elected, but the election of the 3 other councillors to North-West Ward was not affected by the inclusion of fraudulent ballots in the count.[3] El-Halabi continues to deny all allegations.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b "Moreland City Council election results 2020". Victorian Electoral Commission.
- ^ a b c "Councillor resigns following electoral fraud charges as VCAT mulls fresh election". The Age.
- ^ a b "Merri-bek City Council, North-West Ward inquiry concludes". Victorian Electoral Commission.
- ^ "2008 council election results". Victorian Electoral Commission.
- ^ "2012 council election results". Victorian Electoral Commission.
- ^ "Second socialist elected in Moreland, after Labor property developer steps down". Green Left.
- ^ Morgan, Danny. "Former Moreland councillor Milad El-Halabi in court over alleged rigging of ballots in 2020 election". ABC News.
- ^ Morgan, Cassandra. "Votes tampered with in Melbourne council poll: tribunal". The West Australian.