There are 128 local government councils in NSW. Each council represents a local government area. The NSW Electoral Commission will be conducting the elections for 126 councils on Saturday, 14 September 2024 for the election of Councillors. Some councils will also be holding mayoral elections, constitutional referendums and/or polls. Fairfield City Council and Liverpool City Council have chosen to use a commercial election provider.Voting is compulsory at all NSW local government elections except for council polls.See full list of candidates for the Kiama LGA.  More information about how local government elections work.Read the 2024 NSW Local Government elections Service charter. 

At the Council meeting on 13 August, Councillor Jodi Keast tabled a letter from The Hon. John Hatzistergos AM, Chief Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), who had written to registered local government candidates and political parties regarding integrity issues. Keast felt that it was “a good read” and important to table, since it referred to the misuse of ICAC by making unfounded corruption allegations against political rivals, a tactic he described as 'weaponising' the Commission.Keast read out some of the comments that Hatzistergos highlighted in his 8 August letter, including that during past campaigns individuals have exploited the Commission by lodging baseless allegations of corruption to damage the reputations of their opponents. “These allegations may be accompanied by public statements that the matter has been referred to the Commission. Doing so, irrespective of whether there is a reasonable basis for such allegations, may cause political damage, and such allegations should not be used as a weapon to level at a political rival,” he stated.The Commissioner condemned the use of the Commission for political gain, emphasising that such actions are inappropriate and particularly problematic during election campaigns. He explained that this behaviour leaves the Commission with insufficient time to properly assess and investigate allegations, which could ultimately jeopardise the integrity of potential investigations where evidence may be destroyed. "Timely and unpublicised reporting assists the Commission to deal effectively with an allegation," Hatzistergos added.The Commissioner also indicated that while the ICAC typically refrains from confirming or denying the existence of any investigation, if it becomes clear that its functions are being manipulated for political purposes, the Commission may decide that it is in the public interest to clarify its involvement in a matter.The correct procedure is that if any person holds a genuine suspicion of corrupt conduct, it should be reported to the Commission in the usual manner. Reporting suspected corruption allegations to the Commission, actively contributes to a NSW public sector that is more resistant to corruption. Ongoing obligations for councillors and candidatesAs the local government elections approach, sitting councillors and candidates must be mindful of their legal and ethical obligations, particularly during the caretaker period from August 16 to September 3.For councillors:●       During the caretaker period, certain council functions are restricted, including entering into significant contracts, deciding on controversial development applications, and the appointment or removal of the general manager. Councillors must adhere to these restrictions.●       Councillors with access to confidential or commercial-in-confidence information must not misuse this knowledge for personal gain, whether they are leaving office or seeking re-election.●       All councillors, including those campaigning for re-election, are required to disclose their pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests, even as they transition out of office. Failure to do so may result in breaches of the code of conduct and could constitute corrupt conduct.For candidates:●       Candidates should be aware that councillors are prohibited from voting on matters where their reportable donors have a vested interest. This rule, outlined in each council’s code of conduct, ensures that councillors are not improperly influenced by their donors.●       Misuse of council resources, including staff and facilities, for election campaigning or private purposes is strictly forbidden.●       Upon election, councillors become public officials and must act in the public interest, which involves disclosing details of their income, assets, and other financial interests through regular pecuniary interest returns. These disclosures are public documents and play a key role in managing conflicts of interest.The key takeaways are: (a) that registered candidates must adhere to strict guidelines concerning campaigning, political donations, and electoral expenditure. The NSW Electoral Commission offers comprehensive guidance to help candidates meet these obligations, and (b) that all candidates, whether running for the first time or seeking re-election, should uphold the highest standards of integrity and avoid any actions that could be perceived as circumventing electoral funding laws or engaging in improper conduct related to political donations.Hatzistergos reiterates that the Commission takes a proactive approach to the education of elected officials and encourages councils to reach out to the Commission to discuss training opportunities for their councillors.” He affirms, “The Commission would be happy to work with NSW local councils to uplift their education programs.”  

Kiama Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang announced this morning on Kiama Community Radio that she will not seek re-election in the 2024 local government elections. Her decision marks the conclusion of a notable chapter in her public service, one distinguished by her unwavering dedication to the community, with a strong emphasis on sustainable development, local business support, and environmental conservation. Renkema-Lang brings to the table an extensive background in IT and communications, having served in the Royal Australian Navy and later working for the Australian Government. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Information Technology and a Master of Science in Earth and Environmental Science.Reflecting on her term, Renkema-Lang stated that her decision to step down was a difficult one, influenced by the challenges she has faced in office. "The battles I have encountered during my term have taken their toll, and I need a break. It has been an absolute privilege to serve the people of Kiama,” she said. Although she has not disclosed her plans post-council, apart from visiting relatives, Renkema-Lang assured the community that she will remain an active and engaged resident. "While I may be stepping away from the council, my commitment to Kiama remains as strong as ever. I look forward to continuing to contribute to our wonderful community in new and different ways," she concluded.As Kiama approaches the 2024 elections, the absence of Renkema-Lang as a candidate will be keenly felt.

The decommissioned Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) at Havilah Place has languished, empty and unused, for over five years. Once a vital resource, the site is now deemed unfit for its original purpose, leaving a prime piece of real estate in limbo.Deputy Mayor Imogen Draisma, backed by Councillor Stuart Larkins, plans to introduce a motion at the August council meeting to explore a mixed-use redevelopment of the site. The proposed development would prioritise affordable and social housing, addressing a growing need within the community.“When we talk about affordable housing: we are talking about nurses, teachers, frontline workers and aged care workers who cannot afford to live in the communities that they work in,” Clr Draisma emphasised.Clr Larkins highlighted the Council's previous decision to subdivide 1 Havilah Place, noting that the decommissioned RACF and Kiama Community Garden were intentionally kept separate from the five-stage independent living project, ‘Blue Haven Terralong.’Sharing a personal perspective, Clr Draisma recounted, "Like many others, it took my partner and myself over two months of inspections and applications before we were able to secure a rental in the LGA. There is simply not enough affordable rentals to house the people who keep this town running and it is simply not good enough that some Councillors believe that affordable housing is a pie-in-the-sky issue for Council.”Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, Clr Draisma added, " We are experiencing a housing crisis and Council must be part of the solution instead of shirking away from the challenge of delivering housing - which is a fundamental human right."Clr Larkins pointed to the site's strategic advantages, saying that the location is ideal, “with access to nearby public transport, sport facilities, the Kiama Leisure Centre, retail, health services and the Princes Highway.”Clr Draisma concluded with a call to action, stating, "The opportunity to redevelop this site presents once in a lifetime opportunity to work with the community in addressing the Performance Improvement Order and also delivering an innovative project that can provide additional housing in Kiama."It must be noted that back in April Bugle journalist Malcolm King wrote in his article Old Blue Haven Care site empty as rents soar that Kiama Municipal Council has sat on the old Blue Haven care home in Havilah Place for almost four years.Upon hearing this, Kiama’s state MP Gareth Ward has weighed in saying, “I’ve previously raised with council the redevelopment and repurposing of the old Blue Haven site for the greater community good. However, nothing happened. “Labor Councillors have had four years to raise this issue and have done nothing. The community isn’t stupid, and we know Labor Councillors are only saying this now because we are only a few weeks away from an election. “Let’s hope the next council is focused on outcomes for our community rather than transparent stunts before an election. “The last thing we need is party politics in local government and this ‘announcement’ is just another example of why.”

On 31 July, The Bugle and Kiama Community Radio hosted a debate on whether the voters of Kiama want to change from a councillor-elected to a directly elected mayor? It’s the referendum question that will be answered on 14 September.Currently, the councillor-elected mayor serves a two-year term, whilst a directly elected mayor would serve a four-year term.Around 70 locals gathered at the Kiama Leagues Club on Wednesday night to hear both sides of the argument. Former Kiama mayors (Brian Petschler, Neville Fredericks, Sandra McCarthy), current councillors (Stuart Larkins, Matt Brown, and Karen Renkema-Lang), local businessman (Mike Cains) and a directly elected Mayor (Chris Homer of Shellharbour) were the debaters.Here is a summary of the for and against arguments, as presented by both teams:Views of the FOR team:Direct election supports democracy – ‘people rule’ – the decision is in your hands. Direct elections have worked well in other LGAs.A directly elected Mayor is directly accountable to the community-at-large and all the thousands of voters, not just the (4-8) councillors. The power to choose is in the voters’ hands.The direct election of the mayor does not propose wards for council or mean an extra councillor. If the proposal is successful, the community will still have an elected council body of nine members: eight councillors and one mayor.An increasing number of councils have adopted direct mayoral elections: Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, and Bega. Smaller councils than Kiama have also done it, such as Uralla, Bellingen and Dungog with voting populations of 10,000 people (Kiama has 18,000) have directly elected mayors. Some councils without wards have directly elected mayors.As a voter, you can check the candidates’ profiles on LinkedIn to ascertain their background and experience. You can talk to them prior to the election and ask them if they are willing to work full-time for the community? Or remain part-time. You are getting plenty of value for their time. It allows for someone ‘fresh’ to come in, rather than just the major political parties “locked and loaded” for the next 10 years – having done ‘backroom deals’ to take turns at the role of mayor.There are examples of councils where the councillor-elected mayor has changed over far too often: i.e. Wollondilly, where over a 27-year period from 1993 – 2020, there were 21 mayors – with an average term of 15 months. Clearly a dysfunctional ‘revolving door.A high turnover can result in decades of little planning, and little progress. By directly electing a mayor, Kiama LGA can avoid the turnover.In those 27 years in Wollondilly of “everybody gets a prize,” you can imagine what endeavours occupied the time of councillors.... Councillor-elected Mayors would spend their two-year term looking over their shoulder shoring up support – their opponents, particularly the ones they had disposed of to get there in the first place. Their time would be spent, not in the service of the ratepayers, but sharpening their knives in readiness for another round of backstabbing and treachery. You can imagine the borderline corrupt horse-trading of councillors... The “you scratch my back, I scratch yours”-deal.If only in the role for two years, the mayor might get more involved in short-term political decisions that favour their next mayoral electoral cycle – which is another one or two – instead of a four-year role where they would take a more long-term view.  We have already seen animosities and petty squabbles; court cases and censures spill out onto the floor of Kiama’s chamber. To say that this couldn't happen to us is the height of optimism. The worst that can happen with a directly elected Mayor is that we get a dud mayor for four years. The worst-case scenario with our current system is unthinkable.A directly elected Mayor takes these moral hazards out of play: focuses councillors on their jobs and sets us up for a future of delivery.There is a small additional cost to the council election budget every four years of only $20-22,000. That’s only $1.20 per voter.There is a way out if the elected mayor is not up for the job, as the Minister for Local Government can remove them, whether elected by councillors or directly elected, as happened in Canada Bay in December 2023. Kiama is the best place to raise a family and start a business. We can't risk future progress in an unstable democracy.The debaters.Views of AGAINST team:There is no good reason to change. Speaking from experience (with three former mayors on this side): “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”The mayor needs to engage with the general manager, media and the public, as well as report on Council matters. So, the only change would be a four-year term, rather than a two-year term. With no easy way to replace an underperforming directly elected mayor, there are no benefits to having them locked into a four-year term. There may be risks though: Primarily if the elected mayor does not have majority support from councillors, they have a serious problem becoming a “paper tiger.”The public may not be aware that without the support of the other councillors, it’s difficult to carry ideas forward. Then, there’s a risk of councils being sacked. The mayor needs to demonstrate leadership and if they are not backed, they become ineffective – practically - and the council is at risk of dysfunction.The original adjustment to the act in the early 90’s was for the larger councils, such as Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Later came Parramatta, Blacktown and Liverpool. In Wollongong, Lord Mayor Harrison was allegedly at odds with the general manager and the councillors. Different views lead to dysfunction and the minister had to act to dismiss that council and the mayor. Currently in Liverpool, the mayor has allegedly acted to dismiss the general manager. There is no good reason to change to this method just because other councils have done it.Kiama is not ‘political’, although some are identified as political party members. Most councillors consider issues on their own merit.Why would we want to pay more money for a system with a greater risk?We don’t need to ‘Americanise’ our council, in terms of everything being related to the popular vote.Over the last 30 years, all our mayors have served full terms.Staying as we are means ‘getting more bang for your buck’ – getting more and costing less.We have checks and balances every two years to choose whether or not to replace the mayor.The Local Government Act aligns with the Federal and State parliament for protocol and meeting procedure. Australian citizens do not directly elect the Prime Minister and Premier, and the majority of councils in NSW do not directly elect their mayor.Our current system encourages the mayor to be an inclusive leader, to understand the skills, strengths and weaknesses of the elected councillors and harness the combined knowledge and expertise as the governing body of the council and engaging with the community. It is a team approach.It is a system that votes for ideas and policy first above popular people.Mayors that are elected by the voters in an area serve a four-year term. These mayors are elected in addition to the elected councillors. A person elected as mayor cannot also be elected as a councillor in the same area.It is possible to concurrently put yourself up for mayor or councillor, or both. A person can only hold one of those roles. If this referendum succeeds, then the number of councillors remains at eight in total, plus the mayor.At the conclusion of the debate, including the Q&A, the attendees voted in favour of a directly elected mayor: 54.2 percent for to 45.8 percent against. Some attendees chose to abstain. This is quite a small sample, so it could go either way come 14 September when the Kiama LGA will decide in the referendum that accompanies the local government elections. Kiama Council has updated its FAQs page as there seemed to be some confusion at the end of the question time on the night. Here are the links. https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Council/Local-Government-Election-2024/Referendum-Electing-a-Mayor https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Council/News/Mayoral-referendum-and-elections-FAQs-update 

Kiama Council may have two fewer elected representatives in the future after one of its current Councillors lodged a notice of motion to reduce the number of Councillors from nine to seven. Councillor Mark Croxford lodged the motion, saying that reducing the number of Councillors would improve Council’s efficiency and effectiveness, as well as save $43,460 per annum that could be better spent on delivering services. Kiama’s population is significantly lower than neighbouring Councils but has a much smaller ratio of residents compared to the number of Councillors. According to data for the 2021 financial year from a NSW Government report called Your Council, Wollongong had 16,637 residents for each Councillor, Shellharbour had 8,695 residents per Councillor and Shoalhaven had 8,417 people per Councillor. By comparison, Kiama has 2,598 residents per Councillor. "Kiama is classified as a Group 4 Council, along with 25 other Councils in the same classification,” Councillor Croxford says.  "Analysis of other Group 4 Councils indicates that Kiama may be considered overrepresented compared to other Councils in the same group.” Councillor Croxford says he also considered reducing the number of Councillors from nine to five, but landed on seven because it strikes the right balance between efficiency and representation. Having seven Councillors would result in a ratio of 3,384 residents per Councillor, bringing it much closer in line with neighbouring Councils. He added that five Councillors could streamline decision-making even further but could limit effective representation. If the motion is successful and passes all regulatory hurdles, it won’t be until the 2028 local Government election that the Councillor headcount is reduced. The motion first needs to be put to the public for a 42-day consultation. Any submissions the Council receives in that time will help inform its debate. Council must vote on a resolution 12 months before the next local Government election takes place, which is expected to be held 15 September 2024, in order to allow the NSW Election Commission time to provide the Kiama LGA with a referendum on the changes to Councillor numbers for that 2024 election. Council is expected to vote on whether to approve the motion at its August Council meeting. If successful, Council will provide a summary of the motion as well as public consultation submissions to the NSW Minister for Local Government before being handed to the NSW Electoral Commission. If the referendum is approved, it will come into effect at the next local Government election, which will take place in 2028.