Excerpt:
A majority of Leichhardt councillors wanted it to happen. The state government said it would have considered the proposal. So how did Leichhardt Council end up vetoing its own plan for a refugee hub at Callan Park?
The answer involves a healthy dose of local government politicking and a cameo appearance by right-wing anti-Islamic extremists.
Labor councillors moved a motion requesting state and federal funding for a "refugee welcome centre" to be located at Callan Park, parts of which have been disused for decades.