Kiama councillor Warren Steel opposes alcohol audit for meetings

A 25-year veteran on Kiama Council has hit out at a Greens motion to deny councillors of a post-meeting drinking session paid for by ratepayers. Vote in our poll.

The new term began for Kiama Council on Tuesday afternoon with one of the main items on the agenda relating to protocols around post-meeting dinners and who is to pay for the alcohol tab.

Newly-elected Greens councillor Jodi Keast moved a motion which included the issue of alcohol at council dinners, which traditionally has been paid for ratepayers.

“The cost of each dinner will be set at a reasonable maximum with any purchase of alcohol at the individual councillor’s expense,” Cr Keast said when speaking to her motion.

“Our community understands that the organisation is actually facing financial constraints.

Kiama Greens Councillor Jodi Keast forwarded the motion to put an end to resident-paid alcohol after meetings. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“While it’s acceptable to provide a meal, it’s less easy to accept that our ratepayers will cover the cost of alcohol. That is not to say alcohol cannot be consumed, but it should not be covered by our residents and ratepayers, but at the individual councillor’s expense.”

That section of the motion riled the council’s eldest statesman, Cr Warren Steel, who argued Kiama councillors, who receive between $10,000 and $20,000 per year from ratepayers, deserved to have alcohol on the house at the monthly bonding session.

“This will probably end up in the paper, but then again I’m not frightened of that, just close your ears,” Cr Steel, 80, said nodding to the media.

“I’ve been on council now for 25 years and this is the first time this idea has come up. I know things are tight, but are they that tight? When you think of the money councillors get, compared to some of the staff, that’s a hard ask I think.

“I’m a little bit concerned that it’s BYO (chuckles around the chamber). Seriously, you have got to give it a bit of thought. The beauty of it is, people have seen council over the years have ding-dong blues, right (Cr Kathy Rice)? Especially Kathy and I, and then straight after that we sit (with) each other at dinner and things are forgotten.”

Cr Rice shook her head during Cr Steel’s plea. The Greens councillor was unable to be contacted for further comment after the meeting.

Cr Steel moved a near identical motion to Cr Keast’s with the sole alteration to ensure public access remained on the Monday before the council meetings, with Mayor Neil Reilly, who had only begun his term 15 minutes earlier, asking for the issue of publicly-paid alcohol to be addressed at a later date.

Cr Matt Brown, the controversial ex-Labor NSW Police Minister, who was busted with ice in Townsville while a state MP, initially seconded Cr Rice’s motion before withdrawing to support Cr Steel’s motion.

Your Say

“We already pay for the council building windows to be cleaned by abseiling professionals monthly... and on a Sunday at that!” - Margaret Johnson

“Nobody else can drink on the job why can politicians?” - Barry Fenwick

“If you took away all their perks what sort of councilors you would end up with?” - Gary Hutchins

“Why are they having dinners to start with?” - Andrew Shiaxiates