By Mitchell Clarke
A Cardinia Shire candidate has denied any involvement in the operations of an illegal brothel in Melbourne’s West.
According to a Star Weekly article, published in February 2017, the ‘Young Asian Massage’ was shut down, after it was found to be illegally operating just 50 metres from a primary school.
The Footscray brothel was understood to have been running out of a premise, which was owned by Cardinia Shire candidate Daniel Cumming and his wife Amanda.
When questioned by the Gazette, after speculation swirled on social media, Mr Cumming said he wasn’t involved with the business in any way.
“Amanda and myself have numerous commercial properties that we lease,” he explained.
“We had a tenant in Footscray that were doing illegal activity which we gave an eviction notice prior to police removing them.
“We had no connection in the running of or the business itself.”
Mr Cumming, who now lives in Cockatoo, competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics in wrestling, and was a torch runner in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
He owns a Cockatoo based paintball company, which also has locations in Coldstream and Ballan.
According to an article by The Age, the company had more than $60,000 worth of skirmish firearms seized in 2003.
Prior to making a name for himself in the business world, Mr Cumming formerly served as a councillor in 1990 with the City of Maribyrnong.
He told the Gazette he’s a member of Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party, but confirmed he won’t be represented by, or represent the party if successful on council.
Mr Cumming said he decided to run for Officer Ward, rather than his local Ranges Ward.
“I looked at (representing) the different wards that weren’t being contested by sitting councillors,” he said.
“I think the majority of the previous council have done a great job.”
Mr Cumming’s younger brother, John, who also lives in Cockatoo and is a former Maribyrnong mayor, will contest for the Pakenham Hills Ward.
The pair’s sister is Catherine Cumming, an Independent MP representing the Western Metropolitan Region.
It’s understood Daniel Cumming’s daughter Vanessa, is running for Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
The family’s stint in government can be attributed to their mother, Mr Cumming explained.
“My mother owned a secondhand business in Footscray in the ’60s, where she dealt with a lot of people coming into the country with nothing, so she was very community conscious,” he said.
Mr Cumming said he wanted to run for council again now that his three children have grown up.
“There’s a couple of groups (running in Cardinia) that appear to have a political agenda, which is enormously concerning, so I thought I’d run by throwing my hat in the ring,” he said.
“I understand the commitment required to do the work on council.
“We have such a growing community out here, so I think we need to focus on bringing some big infrastructure projects – like a stadium – out this way, so people don’t need to keep on travelling into Melbourne all the time.”
