While the invalid process behind the Mayor’s censuring of Councillor Renkema-Lang has been exposed through her Supreme Court appeal, the motivation behind this action is now up for speculation. 

In commenting on possible motives, former Judge and Chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, Anthony Whealy KC, didn’t hold back. In an interview with the ABC on Friday he said:  “The censure motion appeared to be an ill-considered measure to silence a dissenting councillor,” and “this censure motion strikes me as susceptible to an inference that it was really designed to shut her up.”  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-31/kiama-council-to-pay-legal-fees-over-invalid-censure/103915864 

If Council’s leaders are unwilling to take responsibility for their now discredited actions, then the Minister should step in and appoint an administrator to return our council to a safe, respectful financially sound place, so our elected representatives can freely represent us without fear of harassment. 

Howard H Jones