Green Tom Kiat escapes punishment after drug tip-off

A decision to let a Sydney Greens councillor off the hook after tipping off drug users to sniffer dogs has been slammed as “an absolute joke”.

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A Greens councillor who tipped off drug users about sniffer dogs at a train station has escaped punishment from the state government.

Inner West councillor Tom Kiat warned his 688 Facebook followers that drug dogs were at Ashfield station. The warning was ­issued for people travelling to the council’s Edge Festival September 6.

While Local Government Minister Gabriel Upton ­initially described the post as “absolutely disgraceful”, her department has backed down on its investigation.

“The Model Code of Conduct should not be inter­preted or applied in a manner that would unduly inhibit a councillor’s ability to engage in public debate on policy questions or to comment on an issue affecting the community,” a department spokesman said.

“The community needs to decide whether a councillor encouraging people to break the law meets their expectations and standards. They can do this at the ballot box.”

Inner West councillor Tom Kiat’s Facebook post warning about sniffer dogs and police.

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The lawyer would have faced suspension from the Labor-Greens-dominated council if he was found to have breached the code.

Mr Kiat said he welcomed the finding.

“This was always a politicised complaint without merit from a minister who does not understand how complaints are dealt with in local government,” he said.

“Generally, I welcome the OLG’s interpretation of the Code of Conduct that ensures

councillors have freedom of political communication to represent and serve our community, as we were elected to do.”

Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton. Picture: AAP

The investigation came less than a week after a two people died after consuming drugs at the Defqon1 music Festival at Penrith on September 16.

Inner West Liberal councillor Julie Passas said the decision was “an absolute joke”.

“He is a councillor inviting people to a council event and tipping them off about drugs — he is interfering with the law,” she said.

“There is no way to condone drug use.”

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne declined to comment.