Port Macquarie Hastings Council to hold a referendum to decide if number of councillors should be reduced

A northern NSW council will hold a vote to consider reducing councillor numbers after a fiery debate saw the mayor repeatedly use her casting vote. One councillor said it was a “slap in the face” to the community.

Port Macquarie Hastings Councillor Nik Lipovac.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council will hold a referendum at this year’s election to consider cutting councillor numbers after a fiery debate saw the mayor repeatedly use her casting vote.

Currently, nine councillors are on board including Mayor Peta Pinson. The referendum will ask if residents would be in favour of cutting down to seven, despite the area’s ongoing growth.

Councillors Adam Roberts and Danielle Maltman moved a motion to approve the wording for the referendum – estimated to cost $70,000 – at the September 14 election.

Councillor Rachel Shepherd noted her opposition to reducing councillor numbers, but acknowledged the decision to carry out a referendum had already been made at a previous meeting – with the mayor using her casting vote to break a tie.

Ms Pinson holds the balance of power following the resignation of Councillor Sharon Griffiths in July.

Her casting vote has come into play during a number of important decisions recently.

Cr Rachel Sheppard.

Votes have often been locked four/four, with the same councillors on either side of the debate.

Cr Shepherd slammed the lack of consultation throughout the process.

She said she wanted to “cancel the referendum” but suggested a compromise in the form of information sheets, similar to those distributed during the failed national referendum on the Indigenous Voice to parliament, outlining both sides.

“We have a statement or argument for ‘yes’ and for the ‘no’ put together by councillors so the community can say ‘OK here’s our information, let’s do our research’ … ,” she said.

“This gives some small opportunity for the community to be informed when they make a decision that will seriously affect representation into the future.”

Cr Roberts rejected that idea and said the council should not be a platform for individual political views. He argued councillors had their own platforms to communicate.

Lisa Intemann.

Cr Lisa Intemann was another opposed and said the referendum was a “slap in the face” to the community and would seriously reduce representation, particularly in the context of a growing population.

“I do not support going to this referendum – it will not assist democracy and if somebody says it’s saving money this is false,” she said.

Cr Shepherd’s amendment to include information sheets was rejected by what is often referred to in the community as “Team Pinson” – councillors Josh Slade, Adam Roberts and Danielle Maltman.

Team Pinson: Deputy Mayor Adam Roberts, Cr Josh Slade, Mayor Peta Pinson, Cr Sharon Griffiths (now retired) and Cr Danielle Maltman in 2021.

Councillors Edwards, Intemann, Sheppard and Nik Lipovac voted in favour, voting was tied and Cr Pinson used her casting vote to reject the idea outright.

“I have to say I find it shocking that our council would determine not to provide information to our community,” Cr Sheppard said.

In a separate move, Cr Lipovac moved a motion on discontinuing the election of the mayor by electors in favour of allowing councillors to choose.

It would have taken the form of an extra question at the referendum, estimated to add $35,000 to the bill.

Again, the vote was split four/four along familiar lines and Cr Pinson using her casting vote to reject the idea – which she labelled “preposterous”.

Cr Pinson has declared she will not be running at the next election.

Originally published as Port Macquarie Hastings Council to hold a referendum to decide if number of councillors should be reduced