Jemma Tribe announces candidacy for Shoalhaven mayor

A well-known south coast business woman and former president of a business chamber has announced her intention to run for mayor. Here’s why.

John Lamont and Jemma Tribe at her announcement.

A well-known south coast business woman has announced her candidacy for mayor in the upcoming local government elections this year, hoping to use her experience to fix a region’s dire financial situation.

Jemma Tribe made the announcement she would run as an independent for mayor on Tuesday at the North Nowra shops, informing media in attendance she was stepping down as Shoalhaven Business Chamber President to make the move.

Mrs Tribe served as the chamber president for six years, saying she would use this experience to help Shoalhaven Council come out of their current dire financial situation.

“We have been very vocal as a chamber about council’s financial issues,” she said.

“Change is needed and I’m putting myself forward to be that change.”

Jemma Tribe was Shoalhaven Business Chamber President for six years.

Mrs Tribe’s move comes after Shoalhaven Council dodged a major rate rise bullet, proposing a 44 per cent rate rise over three years after an independent financial report found the regional council was “financially unsustainable”.

However, this will not be Mrs Tribe’s first stint at politics, following an unsuccessful bid for federal parliament in 2022 to be the Liberal candidate for Gilmore and an unsuccessful bid for state parliament in 2023 to be the Liberal candidate for South Coast.

Shoalhaven Council chambers.

Mrs Tribe briefly spent time on Shoalhaven council in the past, saying this and her experience as a business woman was needed in the Shoalhaven.

“As a business owner, social enterprise operator, community leader, parent, former councillor and former political staffer, I’ve had an insight into the challenges faced by council,” she said.

“I believe the community wants it to get back to basics – roads, rates and rubbish. These fundamental issues are being forgotten.”

While Mrs Tribe steps down as Shoalhaven Business Chamber President to make the hopeful move to mayor, Vice President John Lamont will step into the President’s role until the AGM later this year.

“John is a previous President, and has had over 15 years on the committee, so the membership is still in good hands,” she said.

Mr Lamont said the chamber was sad to see Mrs Tribe leave, but understood the decision.

“Jemma has done an incredible job leading the Chamber through tough times of Covid and Natural disasters over the region,” he said.

“While we don’t want to see her go from the chamber, we understand her frustration with Shoalhaven Council and her drive to see change.”

The local government elections will be held in September this year.

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