If NSW councils agree to help Bathurst City Council pay its High Court legal expenses incurred fighting for the Kelso freight terminal, part of the money raised could go to pay the fees of bankrupt barrister Bill Davison, SC.
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Mr Davison, who the Sydney Morning Herald has reported earns $600,000 a year fighting cases like Bathurst councilChr(39)s in the Land and Environment Court, is one of number of bankrupt senior Sydney barristers who owe the Australian Taxation Office big money.
Mr DavisonChr(39)s unpaid tax bill, dating back to the 1980s, is more than $1 million.
Mr Davison was senior counsel for Bathurst City Council in its unsuccessful defence of an appeal to the NSW Court of Appeal brought by White Rock Road resident, Bill Weal, over approval of the freight terminal.
Mr Weal won that round in November. The court set aside the development consent, stopping the freight terminal on council-owned land dead in its tracks.
Now Bathurst City Council is going to the High Court to argue the definition of "consideration" and whether its "consideration" of the noise impact posed by the development was adequate. Once again Mr Davison SC has been retained as senior counsel.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald the senior counsel has twice been declared bankrupt for unpaid income tax debts.
The Local Government and Shires Association High Court fighting fund could raise more than $30,000, depending on the voluntary donations by the associationChr(39)s members.
Industry sources said Mr Davison SC would command a fee in excess of $3000 a day.
