South coast councillor Mitchell Nadin apologises for ‘lunatic’ comment

A south coast councillor has apologised after he insulted a colleague when she asked him to wear a Covid mask during a heated debate.

A south coast councillor has apologised for his “unfair” comments after he was asked by a fellow councillor during a recent meeting to wear a Covid mask.

On Wednesday, Bega councillor and former deputy mayor Mitchell Nadin officially withdrew his controversial comments from a fortnight ago towards fellow councillor Jo Dodds, saying he went too far.

Bega Valley councillors Mitchell Nadin and Jo Dodds. Picture: BVSC

“I played the man, not the ball,” he said during Wednesday’s council meeting.

Mr Nadin said he became “a bit animated” during discussions around a controversial development application surrounding at the Eden chip mill.

A hearing over whether the project will go ahead is currently underway in the NSW Land and Environment Court after conservation group South East Forest Alliance took the development to court.

During a council meeting debate over the $14.9 million application for a hi-tech timber optimisation hub, Ms Dodds requested Mr Nadin wear his Covid mask.

“Just get on with your own life,” Mr Nadin was heard to reply, before responding to Ms Dodds’s request by saying she sounded “neurotic” and “like a lunatic”.

On Wednesday, Mr Nadin said his words were an “unfair criticism”, and told the gallery “it won’t happen again”.

Bega councillor and Bushfire Survivors For Climate Action president Jo Dodds is in Glasgow for Cop26. Picture: Twitter

Ms Dodds, who is currently in Glasgow for the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference after successfully crowd-funding $12,000 for the trip, said she will not be running in this year’s local government election.

While the Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action president said she did not want to comment directly about Mr Nadin’s comments, she said voters should choose “community leaders to represent them” at the upcoming December 4 local government election.

“This means we, the residents of the shire, are selecting the best people to reflect who we are, our values, our strengths,” she said.

“So it’s important to know that the person you choose has a strong moral compass, is respectful and determined to raise your voice, not theirs.

“And that person must contribute to a council workplace culture which is inclusive, diverse, respectful.”

Bega Valley Shire Council building and civic centre generic. Picture: Google Maps

The council’s acting CEO Anthony McMahon said he was unable to confirm whether a code of conduct complaint had been lodged over Mr Nadin’s comments.

Mr McMahon said the “council takes every complaint seriously”.

“To comply with the requirements of the code of conduct and the procedures for administering the code of conduct, council is unable to confirm whether a complaint has been received,” he said.

“Council administers the code of conduct, which all councillors receive training in and are required to abide by, including a complaints process.

“Depending on the nature of a complaint, it may be resolved locally or referred to the Office of Local Government.

“The confidentiality requirements of the Office of Local Government’s ‘Procedures for the Administration of the Model Code of Conduct 2020’ are intended to protect all parties, and ensure procedural fairness when receiving, responding to and managing code of conduct complaints.”