Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has fired back at his detractors in a bizarre stage-managed interview complete with a speaking lectern and a dutiful wife standing by his side.
The controversial councillor may have been going for a "prime-ministerial" look when he requested Nine News provide a lectern for his first television interview since his lavish wedding focused the nation's gaze on his local government dealings.
"I would like to start off by being in state, federal and I'd like to make my way up to the very top spot. That would [be] my dream come true," Mr Mehajer said as he stood at the lectern, notes in hand, addressing a lone reporter. A single Nine News mic propped up in front of him.
Mr Mehajer made a failed bid for the seat of Auburn in the 2011 state election, but on Monday night set his sights further skyward.
"I don't believe I have what it takes to be a superstar but we'll see what happens. If an opportunity knocks on my door I'm always willing for a challenge," he said.
His wife Aysha had been positioned in-camera shot by his shoulder, at her husband's suggestion.
"Yeah, why not. She should probably step back, though, like two metres," Mehajer told the Nine News reporter before the wide-ranging formal interview began.
"I only showed the world how a female should be treated," Mr Mehajer said of his extravagant wedding, as Aysha stood silently to his right (two metres behind him).
The interview came amid claims that he threatened a family member of Sydney Siege survivor Joel Herat.
"Not only are these allegations false and misleading but they are sheer evil and unAustralian," he said.
Mr Mehajer has previously denied the allegations he threatened Mr Herat's father Bruce after an altercation at a Burwood gym, saying he planned to sue for $10 million in damages.
According to Nine News, Mr Mehajer believes he was set up, saying Mr Herat had ties to a commercial lender who was currently suing the deputy mayor after a business deal went south.
"The police are yet to confirm whether these matters are linked," he said.
Mr Mehajer also addressed allegations he was using his position on Auburn council to benefit his property developer business as part of a group of councillors known as the 'super six'.
"We never actually always vote together in the so called 'super six'. If you look at the council records there are a number of times I've voted with the poor four if I may call them that," referring to the other four Auburn councillors.
Monday night's interview coincided with the release of a music video by US rapper Bow Wow shot in Mr Mehajer's Auburn mansion.
Mr Mehajer promoted the video on his Facebook page in August, telling his followers to keep a lookout for exciting things to come.
But it was all about self-promotion on Monday night, with Mr Mehajer posting a link to the Nine News interview on his Facebook page with the tagline "Part 1 of 3".
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way," he wrote.
Whether Mr Mehajer was foreshadowing a further two media interviews or suggesting his position in local government was the first of three steps to claiming the PM's "top job" was unclear.
In an earlier Facebook post, Mr Mehajer counselled his 7800 followers: "Remember, Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible.'"
