Last Thursday, NSW Police were called to Kiama Council Chambers after an Extraordinary Council Meeting got out of hand.

The Meeting was expected to deal with a Notice of Motion put forward by Councillor Kathy Rice calling for the suspension of the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira, and the appointment of an investigator from the Office of Local Government to review the divestment process.

During the Meeting, Mayor Neil Reilly ruled that a revised version of Cr Rice’s Notice of Motion would not be debated and attempted to move the Meeting into a confidential session.

In response, members of the United Services Union in attendance – some of whom were locals – began shouting, intimidating, and making threats of violence against the Mayor and other Councillors.

Police were called, and the protestors were moved on.

Police also told other locals in attendance – who weren’t associated with the United Services Union – that they weren’t allowed back into the meeting at the request of Council, even though the Mayor hadn’t formally moved a Motion to commence a confidential session.

These are the facts.

We only know them because The Bugle’s very own Brendon Foye was there when it happened.

Brendon was doing his job.

That’s why The Bugle was so disappointed to see the barrage of criticism which came Brendon’s way, just for reporting what happened.

One Councillor has accused him of “cussing and showing dismissive attitudes”, while another suggested his account of events was “lacking in…journalistic integrity”.

For the record, The Bugle backs Brendon’s reporting and so do our readers – we have been inundated with letters of support for simply doing our job and championing free speech.

As always, we are committed to bringing you reporting on the issues that matter to our community.

Brendon was at the Meeting last Thursday to report on the sale of ratepayer-owned Blue Haven Bonaira – potentially worth $100 million – because it matters.

The Bugle brings you stories on the cost of living, mental healthcare, and housing because they matter.

And we do it all without fear or favour because that matters too.

Of course, we won’t always make everyone happy, and we won’t always tell everyone what they want to hear, but we will always stick to the facts, and we will always tell it like it is.