NSW Police were called to remove protesters from a meeting at Kiama Council Chambers on Thursday night after members of the United Services Union (USU) intimidated and made threats towards Councillors.

Citizens and Union members came along to the tense Extraordinary Meeting on 1 February 2024 where it was expected that a Notion of Motion (NoM) submitted by Kathy Rice would be debated. The original NoM called for the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira to be suspended and appoint an investigator from the Office of Local Government to review the divestment process.

Guests in the gallery began voicing their disapproval when Mayor Neil Reilly ruled that a revised version of the NoM submitted by Councillor Rice that morning would not be debated, and instead tabled as a petition, as he considered it impossible to work into a lawful and enforceable motion.

Throughout the meeting, members of the public in the gallery began yelling insults and expletives directed at Councillors, which is against Council’s Code of Conduct. However, Mayor Reilly persisted through the meeting and allowed the public to remain in the gallery.

It wasn’t until Mayor Reilly attempted to move the meeting into a confidential session that chaos erupted in the Chamber, as citizens and USU members began shouting, intimidating and making threats of violence towards Mayor Reilly and other Councillors, witnessed by The Bugle. Four union members claimed they should be allowed to witness the confidential session, and that they would need to be removed by police if Council wanted them to leave.

There was some confusion as to the order of events, as Council typically passes a vote before moving into a confidential session. Mayor Reilly declared the public access portion of the meeting over as the majority of attendees began filing out of the chambers. When some members of the public began attempts to intimidate Councillors, Mayor Reilly requested Kiama Council CEO Jane Stroud to call the police to remove them from the gallery.

Police arrived approximately 20 minutes later to peacefully escort the union members out of the premises. The Bugle understands they were also issued with a move-on order.

There was also some confusion among attendees outside Chambers, who were informed by Police that they were not allowed to re-enter the building, including media and members of the public not representing the USU.

Speaking to The Bugle outside of Council chambers after the meeting, Mayor Neil Reilly said the public wasn’t allowed back into the building as “There were some threats made to a Councillor and I felt for the Councillor’s wellbeing.”

Mayor Reilly labelled the move by USU as labelled the move “childish.”

“I think that it is just childish. The USU told me ages ago that there were about 12 people up at Blue Haven who were there members, I said those members would be looked after under the Fair Work Act of NSW and they will be. I don’t know that it’s worth creating such a kerfuffle, but it comes to a matter of overzealous pride on behalf of USU to stop a situation.”

The United Services Union has been contacted for comment.

Kiama Council has also been contacted for comment