Labor’s Ola Hamed has made history as the first woman of Lebanese heritage to be elected Mayor of Cumberland Council, with Michael Zaiter from the Liberals taking on the role of Deputy Mayor.
At tonight’s meeting, the newly elected Councillors gathered for the first time to vote on the key leadership positions for the Council.
The contest for Mayor came down to two candidates—Hamed and Paul Garrard from Our Local Community, a long-serving Councillor.
Hamed secured the support of her five Labor colleagues, as well as Greens Councillor Sujan Selven. In a surprising turn, all four Liberal Councillors also backed Hamed.
The only votes for Garrard came from his fellow Our Local Community members, Steve Christou and Helen Hughes.
After a brief break, Hamed took her seat as Mayor to a round of applause. She expressed her gratitude to her family and fellow Councillors.
“I’m deeply honoured to be sworn in as the Mayor of Cumberland City Council,” Hamed said.
“Our partnership between Labor and Liberal shows our shared commitment to a prosperous future for the people of Cumberland.”
Hamed highlighted that one of her top priorities would be to unify both the Council and the community, stating, “That’s what civic leadership should always be about.”
She also called on the new Cumberland Council to move beyond the “toxicity of the last seven years” and work towards a united chamber.
“I extend my hand to each and every one of you. I’m seeking your professionalism and cooperation as we address our shared challenges,” she said.
“It will take all of us, working together despite our differences, to make a meaningful impact on this community. So, let’s get to work.”
For the position of Deputy Mayor, Zaiter was nominated alongside Helen Hughes from Our Local Community. Once again, Labor, Liberal, and the Greens joined forces to elect Zaiter. Christou and Garrard voted for Hughes.
The result is a significant victory for Zaiter, following his brother Martin Zaiter’s recent election as Lord Mayor of Parramatta.
Zaiter acknowledged that the Liberal support for Hamed might have surprised some residents.
“Many of our residents may see the Liberal party’s support for a Labor Councillor as unconventional due to our political differences at the State and Federal levels,” Zaiter said.
“But our job here tonight is to serve the people of Cumberland. To do that, we need to manage our differences to ensure stability and good governance over the next four years.”
An emotional Zaiter was moved to tears as he thanked his family for their support.
Independent Councillors Ahmed Ouf and Eddy Sarkis abstained from voting.
Following the meeting, a reception was held in the courtyard, where Councillors and guests mingled to celebrate the occasion. Oz Arab Media was represented at the event by Elie Kaltoum.
Mayor Hamed will serve until 2026, while Zaiter’s term as Deputy Mayor will last until 2025.
