Lismore SES refuses councillor Big Rob after council Code of Conduct complaints

A Lismore councillor has been refused membership to the State Emergency Service after Code of Conduct complaints about his actions as an elected Lismore City Council official.

Lismore councillor Big Rob has been refused membership to the State Emergency Service after Code of Conduct complaints

Councillor Big Rob has been refused membership to the State Emergency Service after Code of Conduct complaints about his actions as an elected Lismore City Council official.

Cr Rob applied to become a volunteer of the NSW SES Northern Rivers Capability Unit, but was refused because of complaints levelled against him at the May council meeting, and his formal censuring at the June meeting.

Cr Rob lashed out at councillors and staff about the refusal in an email leaked to this publication.

Lismore councillor Big Rob.

“I just want to thank those who censured me in the past for this latest thing,” he wrote.

Cr Rob accused the Lismore City Council union of sabotaging his application with the SES.

“There is certainly no love lost between myself, unions and the Labor Party,” he wrote.

A NSW SES spokesperson would only say: “Due to privacy requirements NSW SES is unable to comment on any membership related matter, including application status.”

Details of two separate Code of Conduct complaints linked to the refusal can now be revealed.

Cr Rob was investigated for conduct towards a fellow councillor on his social media pages and in emails.

Lismore City Council councillors (back) Peter Colby, Big Rob, Andrew Bing, Vanessa Ekins, Andrew Gordon, Adam Guise. (Front) Elly Bird, Jeri Hall, Steve Krieg, Electra Jensen, Darlene Cook.

An investigator recommended censuring Cr Rob over a number of public posts on Facebook pages Lismore Information Exchange and Unofficial Big Rob, which were considered “unsubstantiated attacks”.

But the council voted not to censure Cr Big Rob over the allegations during the May and June council meetings.

Councillors Gordon and Bing moved and it was resolved at the May council meeting for the council to express that it did not “have confidence in the procedures for the administration of the model Code of Conduct for local councils in NSW”.

Cr Big Rob was censured during the June council meeting, however, for conduct toward former council interim general manager John Walker.

Former Lismore City Council GM John Walker. Picture: Danielle Smith

An internal investigation into allegations made in respect of emails and Facebook posts by Cr Rob about Mr Walker were found to publicly bring Mr Walker’s leadership into disrepute, and therefore breach the Code.

In response, Mr Rob told investigators in response he had been “targeted” and treated “adversely”.

Mr Walker declined to comment.

Lismore councillor Big Rob.

Cr Rob was offered the chance to comment regarding both Code of Conduct matters and his volunteer application refusal by the SES.

Cr Rob replied via email: “Fake news, no comment!”

It is understood Cr Rob believes the Code of Conduct process is being wielded as a weapon by political opponents.