Chamber sacks critic in trading row

Vocal Albany businessman John Hetherington has been sacked from the executive committee of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry after breaching several serious committee protocols.

Mr Hetherington, who owns Albany Property Management and Albany Clean and Green Car Wash, had been on the executive for 18 months and a member of the ACCI for six years.

Mr Hetherington provided theAlbany Advertiser with a series of emails and letters between the ACCI and himself, dating back to early April, concerning indiscretions including breaches of confidentiality, unacceptable language, acting on behalf of the executive without approval and portraying the ACCI in a poor manner.

It is believed to be the first time an individual has been unanimously dismissed from the chamber’s executive.

In one letter, ACCI president Cameron Bergsma said Mr Hetherington, who has been an outspoken supporter of deregulation of trading hours, had released confidential information on Facebook in relation to an ACCI survey on retail trading in March and was overheard publicly discussing a confidential proposal to the ACCI by a third party.

He also made derogatory comments about a former City of Albany chief executive on Facebook, which theAlbany Advertiser has viewed.

Mr Hetherington did not satisfy the committee with his response to the allegations and was subsequently sacked on Tuesday.

Mr Hetherington believes the main reason for his sacking surrounds his strong opinions on topics such as seven-day trading.

“It was all about the seven-day trading — they don’t like the fact that I have an opinion,” he said.

“Because I’ve been outspoken in these things they’ve obviously decided it’s better if I’m not there.”

Mr Hetherington most recently expressed his views at an ACCI breakfast with State Opposition Leader Mark McGowan in attendance.

The ACCI said it would make no further comment on the issue as it did not want to damage Mr Hetherington’s professional reputation.