Frank Carbone
Mayor of Fairfield
Assumed office
21 March 2012
Preceded byNick Lalich
Councillor of the Fairfield City Council
for Fairfield Ward
In office
13 September 2008 – 8 September 2012
Preceded byRobert Watkins
Succeeded byCharbel Saliba
Personal details
Born
Frank Giuseppe Carbone

(1970-03-26) 26 March 1970
Prairiewood, New South Wales, Australia
Political party
Children2
Occupation
  • Businessman
  • Politician
Websitemayorfrankcarbone.com.au

Frank Giuseppe Carbone (born 26 March 1970) is an Australian politician. In 2012 he became Mayor of the City of Fairfield,[1] one of the largest local government areas (LGA) in New South Wales by population.

He previously served as a councillor for the City of Fairfield between 2008 and 2012, representing the Fairfield Ward.[2] Carbone was re-elected at the 2012,[3] 2016,[4] and 2021[5] NSW local government elections.

Early life

Carbone was born at Fairfield Hospital on 26 March 1970.[6] He attended Harrington Street Public School in Cabramatta West, and later Bonnyrigg High School, where he completed his Higher School Certificate.[7]

Prior to entering politics, Carbone owned and operated a jewellery business in Canley Heights with his brother Pasquale.[8]

Political career

In 2008, Carbone was preselected by the Labor Party to stand on their ticket in the Fairfield Ward for the NSW local government election held on 13 September.[9] During his first term on the Fairfield City Council, Carbone attracted media attention when it was revealed part of a public park in Canley Vale would be rezoned and turned into a cul-de-sac to serve a number of residential and commercial properties in which he and his brother owned shares.[10]

Owing to changes in NSW Government legislation, preventing state parliamentarians serving on local councils, former mayor Nick Lalich announced his intention to step down from Fairfield City Council to focus his efforts on being MP for Cabramatta. That allowed Carbone to become mayor of Fairfield City on 21 March 2012.[2]

Six months later, at the 2012 NSW local government elections, Carbone was elected mayor with 71.3% of the vote after preferences.[3] During his first term as mayor, Carbone oversaw major projects, including the Fairfield Showground redevelopment,[11] Fairfield Adventure Park,[12] Aquatopia Water Park,[13] and the Fairfield Youth and Community Centre.[14]

Leading up to the 2016 NSW local government elections, Carbone came under pressure from colleagues in the Labor Party, with state parliamentarians Nick Lalich (Cabramatta MP), Hugh McDermott (Prospect MP) and Guy Zangari (Fairfield MP) writing to ALP head office asking that Carbone be disendorsed, claiming that his property interests conflicted with his civic duties.[15] Carbone was cleared by a candidate review panel, but the Labor Party still decided to dump him as its mayoral candidate for Fairfield City,[16][17] opting instead for Lalich's partner, Del Bennett, which led to Carbone standing for mayor without ALP endorsement.[18] His decision to stand as an independent saw him expelled from the Labor Party for running against their endorsed candidate.[19]

During the 2016 mayoral election, Carbone found an ally in former Liberal Party member Dai Le, who had also been suspended from her party over standing against endorsed candidates.[20] The combined Carbone-Le independent ticket also ran candidates in all Fairfield City Council wards and appealed to disenfranchised voters.[21][22]

Carbone was ultimately successful in retaining mayoralty of the City of Fairfield and becoming the first popularly elected independent mayor in Fairfield's history, claiming victory over Labor's Del Bennett by just 135 votes.[23] A recount was ordered by the returning officer which increased Carbone's margin of victory to 233 votes.[4]

Throughout Carbone's second term as mayor, he continued the transformation of Fairfield City, signing up to the Western Sydney City Deal between the Australian and NSW Governments,[24] allowing the fast-tracking of projects such as the Fairfield Showground redevelopment, Deerbrush Park all-abilities playground, and Aquatopia Water Park upgrade.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Carbone was vocal in opposing NSW Government restrictions, including curfews,[25] mandatory 'surveillance testing',[26] permits for authorised workers, and limiting exercise to one hour a day no more than 5 km from a person's home. The restrictions were applied to "LGAs of Concern", which initially included Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield, and Liverpool, but were later expanded to also include Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Cumberland, Georges River, Parramatta, and Strathfield).[27] During that period, Carbone and other mayors regularly locked horns with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian over her handling of restrictions for their communities, given that Sydney's affluent eastern and northern suburbs came under a separate set of rules, which prompted accusations of a double standard designed to segregate Sydney.[28][29]

At the 2021 NSW local government elections, Carbone was re-elected mayor with 73.5% of the vote.[30] He also teamed up again with Dai Le fielding candidates in all Fairfield City Council wards, and between them their team won 10 of the available 12 seats on Fairfield City Council.[5][31]

In 2022, Carbone flirted with the idea of running for the federal electorate of Fowler against Labor frontbencher Kristina Keneally.[32] Ultimately he did not stand for election but instead supported his Deputy Mayor Dai Le, who went on to win the seat with a swing of 16%, becoming the first refugee and Vietnamese Australian to be elected to the Australian House of Representatives.

Personal life

Carbone is married to Gina and has two children.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Mayor Frank Carbone". www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 Lee, Sally (6 March 2012). "Lalich is into his last fortnight as mayor". Fairfield City Champion. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 "2012 NSW Local Council Elections - Fairfield City Council - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  4. 1 2 Nicholls, Sean (23 September 2016). "Frank Carbone wins Fairfield mayoralty after being dumped by ALP". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Frank Carbone's independents take control of Fairfield council". The Daily Telegraph. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  6. ↑ Boulous, Chris (4 May 2021). "Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone launches petition to upgrade Fairfield Hospital". Fairfield City Champion. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Profile: Frank Carbone, candidate for Mayor and Cabravale Ward". Fairfield Decides 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Barlass, Heath Aston, Tim (1 September 2013). "Treasurer Chris Bowen's lieutenant was the landlord at an illegal brothel". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ "2008 NSW Local Council Elections - Fairfield City Council - ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  10. ↑ Ryle, Gerard (3 January 2009). "Park sale to build road past councillor's holdings". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  11. ↑ Stone, Lucy (25 May 2016). "New lease of life for Fairfield Showground". Fairfield City Champion. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "FAIRFIELD ADVENTURE PARK OPENS". Express. The Australian-Polish Magazine. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  13. ↑ Nguyen, Kevin (8 September 2015). "New water park will make a splash". Fairfield City Champion. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  14. ↑ "Senator Marise Payne and Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone turn the first sod on Fairfield Youth and Community Centre". The Daily Telegraph. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  15. ↑ Robertson, James (23 July 2016). "Knives out for Mayors as preselection battles heat up". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  16. ↑ Sacco, Frances (5 August 2016). "Labor Party rules Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone eligible to run for council election". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  17. ↑ Stone, Lucy (8 August 2016). "Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone disendorsed by NSW Labor". Fairfield City Champion. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  18. ↑ Stone, Lucy (24 August 2016). "Deal or no deal? Council candidates disagree". Fairfield City Champion. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  19. ↑ Silmalis, Linda (30 August 2016). "Frank Carbone expelled from ALP for running against endorsed candidate". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "Liberal Party doles out 10-year suspension after councillor's independent mayor bid". ABC News. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  21. ↑ Nicholls, Sean (10 August 2016). "Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone savages ALP preselection, will run with Liberal Dai Le". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  22. ↑ Sacco, Frances (18 August 2016). "Jilted candidates vow to freeze major parties out of preferences". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  23. ↑ Stone, Lucy (18 September 2016). "Carbone claims victory as first independent mayor". Fairfield City Champion. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  24. ↑ "Council negotiating on City Deal". www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  25. ↑ McKee, Brianna (8 July 2021). "Targeted Mayors speak against NSW Premier's divisive rhetoric". Sky News Australia. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  26. ↑ Flanagan, Tom (14 July 2021). "'I am disappointed': Mayor blows up over Sydney 'nightmare'". Yahoo News Australia. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  27. ↑ "This is who is allowed to travel for work if you live in the Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs". ABC News. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  28. ↑ "Sydney hotspot mayor in 'disagreements' with NSW Premier over easing tough lockdown". www.9news.com.au. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  29. ↑ "Southwest Sydney mayors say new COVID-19 restrictions segregates community from rest of Greater Sydney". SBS News. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  30. ↑ Boulous, Chris (6 December 2021). "Frank is back as mayor". Fairfield City Champion. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  31. ↑ "City of Fairfield - 2021 NSW Local Government Elections". abc.net.au. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  32. ↑ "Fairfield Mayor hints at running at upcoming federal election". 2GB. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
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