Shoalhaven Independents Group

Shoalhaven Independents Group
Abbreviation
  • SIG
LeaderPatricia White
FounderGreg Watson
HeadquartersVincentia, New South Wales, Australia[1]
IdeologyLocalism
Conservative[2]
Political positionRight-wing[3][4]
Slogan"Community Honesty Experience Integrity"[5]
Shoalhaven City Council
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The Shoalhaven Independents Group (SIG), also known simply as the Shoalhaven Independents, is an Australian political party that contests local government elections for Shoalhaven City Council in New South Wales.[6]

The party is currently registered with the New South Wales Electoral Commission (NSWEC).[1]

History

Shoalhaven Independents has existed since at least 2004, and has been led by Greg Watson − who was elected mayor in 1999 − for most of that time.[7] The party won a majority at the 2004 local elections, with Watson re-elected mayor and six SIG candidates elected as councillors. He was defeated in 2008 by Paul Green, and unsuccessfully contested the 2012 and 2016 elections as well.[8][9][10]

At the 2021 local elections, SIG won the largest number of councillors − 4 out of 12 − but fell short of winning a plurality as incumbent Greens mayor Amanda Findley was re-elected.[11] The party had endorsed three candidates for the mayoral election, including former Team Gash councillor Patricia White.[12][13][14]

Watson retired at the 2024 local elections after 50 years as a councillor, with White taking over as SIG leader.[15][16] The party pledged to re-introduce Australia Day Awards and citizenship ceremonies on 26 January if elected to a majority.[17][18]

Controversies

Donations

Following the 2004 election, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that SIG's victory was "helped by thousands of dollars of developers' money that paid for a television, radio and print election campaign" larger than that of any other candidate.[19][20] The donations to SIG for the 2004 election totalled $91,017.[21][22]

In 2008, it was found that SIG's funding declaration failed to disclose four years' worth of political donations, including Watson's unsuccessful campaign for the electorate of South Coast at the 2003 state election.[23][24][25]

References

  1. ^ a b "Local government register of political parties". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  2. ^ Raue, Ben (17 August 2024). "Assessing the political impact of the missing Liberals". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  3. ^ Hutchinson, Andy (15 August 2021). "Smears, Lies and Idiots - The Far Right's Assault on Shoalhaven Council". New Bush Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  4. ^ Raue, Ben (30 December 2023). "Shoalhaven council election, 2024". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  5. ^ "The Shoalhaven Independents" (PDF). Heads News. September 2024. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Shoalhaven Independents back on the Roads". ulladulla.info. 28 August 2024. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  7. ^ Raue, Ben (5 May 2021). "Shoalhaven council election, 2021". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Shoalhaven City Council". ABC News. 13 September 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-01-11. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  9. ^ "Shoalhaven City Council". ABC News. 8 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Shoalhaven City Council Mayoral Contest". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 10 September 2016. Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  11. ^ "City of Shoalhaven". ABC News. 4 December 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  12. ^ Clifford, Jessica (25 November 2021). "How Shoalhaven's next Mayor will manage disasters, a south coast priority for local elections". ABC News. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  13. ^ Arnold, Alex (21 September 2012). "Team Gash to control Shoalhaven council". Illawarra Mercury. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  14. ^ Fist, Rebecca (3 October 2018). "Joanna Gash, Patricia White and John Wells end allegiance on Shoalhaven City Council". South Coast Register. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Speech - Councillor Greg Watson". Fiona Phillips MP. 19 August 2024. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  16. ^ Ellard, Greg (16 May 2024). "Patricia White leads Shoalhaven Independents into council election". South Coast Register. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  17. ^ Andrea, Peter (16 January 2024). "Shoalhaven Independents to re-introduce Australia Day Awards and Ceremonies". 2ST. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  18. ^ Ellard, Glenn (19 January 2024). "Growing push to return citizen ceremonies to Australia Day". Milton Ulladulla Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Developers' donations pushed team to coastal victory". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 December 2004. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  20. ^ "More corporate funds for mayor's group". Sydney Morning Herald. 10 September 2008. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  21. ^ Hatton, John (2 November 2009). "Planning in NSW is out of control". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  22. ^ Frew, Wendy (8 April 2008). "Council accused of cheap land sale". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  23. ^ Wheeldon, David (16 March 2008). "Mayor's party broke the law". Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Businessman defends Watson donations". ABC News. 16 May 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  25. ^ Hanscombe, John (13 May 2008). "Secret dossier on donations outed by Nile". South Coast Register. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.