Six months ago, Australia barely knew anything about the western Sydney council with the flamboyant deputy mayor and his penchant for Ferraris.
But on Wednesday, the entire Auburn Council was suspended pending a public inquiry into allegations its councillors, including property developer Salim Mehajer, were making decisions on planning and development matters which would benefit them.
"Given the serious nature of the allegations the council is facing, it is clear it is in the public interest to temporarily suspend the council during the course of the inquiry," Local Government Minister Paul Toole said.
The scandal-plagued council was first flung into the spotlight when Mr Mehajer's lavish wedding shut down a street in Lidcombe in August last year.
The colourful councillor was last month suspended from civic office for four months for failing to declare all of his financial interests.
Although he made no mention of Mr Mehajer, Mr Toole noted he could only suspend the whole council, not individual councillors.
"We've seen a council in the newspaper for all the wrong reasons," he told AAP.
"This inquiry is about ensuring the community can once again have confidence in their council."
But Mr Mehajer said the decision to suspend the council was premature.
"I believe this has raised more concerns from the public relating to the minister's abuse of the power (allegations) as we all can appreciate the understanding of cause and effect," he told News Corp.
"Investigations should be made, concluded and then decisions finalised based on the findings."
The state government in January gave councillors two weeks to prove they should not be suspended.
But during an emergency meeting soon after, councillors voted to formally argue against the plan but failed to discuss why they should avoid the sack.
Fellow Auburn councillor Irene Simms, who has long called for the investigation, said it was horrible to be kicked out after 17 years in office.
"I don't blame the government. I blame the councillors who wronged the community," she said.
Meanwhile, NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley reiterated calls for property developers and real estate agents to be banned from councils and spending to be capped in their elections.
"Let's not pretend the problems start and stop in Auburn," he said,
"We need a reform agenda in local government ... that gets developers off local councils. There's just too much of a conflict of interest."
Former Mosman Council general manager Viv May has been appointed interim administrator during the public inquiry which is expected to take six to eight months.
It could mean the end of Auburn Council in its original form, with the council facing a potential amalgamation later this year.
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