Shadow Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast Natalie Ward has accused the NSW Government of turning a blind eye to claims of a conflict of interest levelled at Kiama Councillor Imogen Draisma.

Ward believes Cr Draisma should have declared a conflict of interest and abstained from voting at the recent Council meeting over a reclassification motion involving three local surf life saving clubs.

Cr Draisma, who was one of five local Councillors who voted for the motion along with Matt Brown, Yasman Tatrai, Stuart Larkins and Mike Cains, is employed as an electorate officer for Wollongong MP Paul Scully, who is also the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

Shadow Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman first raised concerns about Cr Draisma’s employment in NSW Parliament last Thursday, directing a pointed question to Scully.

“Your staff member, Imogen Draisma, didn’t disclose a conflict of interest before voting on the 20th of May in favour of a Council motion to reclassify three surf life saving clubs from community land to operational land, allowing them potential sale,” Tuckerman said in Parliament.

“That reclassification requires your approval. What discussions did you have with Councillor Draisma about this reclassification prior to the vote?”

Scully responded with: “Well, well. This is deeply inquisitive, Mr Speaker.

“I don’t discuss Council matters with Councillor Draisma but as for her declaration, I don’t know. I also don’t watch Kiama Council proceedings because I have got work to do.”

When contacted by The Bugle about Tuckerman’s query, Cr Draisma was adamant there was no conflict of interest.

“As the former Minister for Local Government, I would expect the Member to better understand the fundamental process of land reclassification under the Local Government Act,” she said.

“I have, on the public record, diligently disclosed and removed myself from numerous items of business in the current and previous term of Council.

“The motion in question is to commence a reclassification process of land subject to consent of each Surf Life Saving Club. The outcome of this consultation will be provided in a future report to Council.

“It is not the policy of Kiama Municipal Council to sell any Surf Life Saving Club or the land that they sit on.

“If the Member, or the person behind her, has concerns they are aware of the avenue available.

“I will not be intimidated from serving my community by a politically motivated misinformation and disinformation campaign made under parliamentary privilege. I have written to the Speaker seeking a Citizens’ Right of Reply.”

Ward said “locals are right to smell a cover-up”.

“The Minns Labor Government is running a two-tier system where it is one rule for everyday locals, and another for Labor staffers sitting on councils voting on planning matters tied to their bosses,” she said.

“The Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully, is the Minister for Planning and the employer of the councillor who voted on a land reclassification matter - a matter that will ultimately end up on his desk.

“She didn’t declare a conflict, and he says he didn’t ask. From Macquarie Street, down through the Illawarra and to Kiama, Labor’s got a transparency problem.”

Ward said Cr Draisma declared at the Council meeting “a significant non-pecuniary conflict” for Item 15.5 – Quarterly Planning and Development Report, and left the chamber during that item due to her employment with the Planning Minister.

However, for Item 20.1, she participated in the debate and voted on a matter that Ward claims involves planning powers held by her employer, creating a clear perception of conflict.

Cr Draisma opted not to respond to Ward’s claims when contacted by The Bugle this week.