A week is a long time in politics. Especially local politics in Kiama, it seems. Over the last week we have witnessed one of the most objectively shocking episodes in the history of our town. 

As disclosed on Kiama Council’s website, the CEO Jane Stroud referred Councillors Karen Renkemba-Lang, Jodi Keast and Kathy Rice to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), under Section 11 of the ICAC Act. 

Referring a public official to ICAC to the Independent Commission Against Corruption is a relatively simple matter. According to the ICAC Act, when a principal officer (like a CEO of Council) makes a referral against a public official they do not need proof – they only need to ‘suspect on reasonable grounds that corrupt conduct has occurred or may occur’.

As such, referrals are supposedly quite commonplace in Sydney where dirty deeds are done, not on the cheap. However, for our fair town, this is not common at all, and is symptomatic of the dysfunction that the community has experienced for the better part of three years since this Council came in.

In addition to these ICAC referrals, how can we forget:

• Councillor Mark Croxford and Councillor Renkema-Lang being censured over breaches of conduct with a third under investigation,
• Councillor Renkema-Lang taking Council to court over the aforementioned censure, which was eventually ruled invalid, 
• The enormous budget blow out and eventual sale of Blue Haven Bonaira (with settlement to occur within two months, the sale price still remains undisclosed)
• A revised Performance Improvement Plan (as a result of the botched Bonaira affair) from the NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig which undoubtedly foreshadows more asset sales, possible special rate levies and a perilous financial situation,
• A $5 million legal bill.

It’s quite a CV from a bunch of individuals who are supposedly representing us with our best interests in mind.

With representatives like these, no wonder there have been multiple calls from the community for Minister Hoenig to call in an Administrator.

Glen Humphries at the Mercury said it best:

“Now, if all that doesn’t make this time the worst in the council’s history, it’s hard to imagine what else has to happen to make it so”.

Mayor Neil Reilly points to a lot of angst between councillors which has obviously bled into the operation of Council.

Take for instance, these ICAC referrals. Whilst a referral to ICAC does not constitute guilt or corruption, and all three councillors have come out and vigorously denied the allegations, the fact that we even know about the referrals is the most curious part of this sordid saga.

The Bugle does not dispute that the CEO had a duty to report to ICAC and make the referral.

However, when ICAC states that it ‘generally prefers’ that referrals are not made public ‘as it may prejudice any action (ICAC) take. Furthermore, a failure to handle reports to the ICAC confidentially may cause unnecessary damage or embarrassment to individuals’.

It seems that to someone in Council, causing damage or embarrassment was entirely necessary and intentional. 

“It’s Time” was a highly successful political campaign during the 1972 federal election where Gough Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to victory, after 23 years of a conservative Coalition government. 

Whilst the time period is only three or so years, and Labor councillors are part of this debacle at Council, The Bugle’s View is that it’s time:

• It’s time for a completely new direction for our Council and representatives,
• It’s time for more current councillors to announce they will not run for re-election,
• It’s time for change.

14 September 2024 is the local government election for Kiama – it’s time.