Shoalhaven Independents Group Explained

Shoalhaven Independents Group
Leader:Patricia White
Founder:Greg Watson
Headquarters:Vincentia, New South Wales, Australia[1]
Ideology:Localism
Conservative[2]
Position:Right-wing[3] [4]
Slogan:"Community Honesty Experience Integrity"[5]
Seats1 Title:Shoalhaven City Council
Country:New South Wales
Country2:Australia

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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Local government register of political parties . New South Wales Electoral Commission . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240709052601/https://elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure/public-register-and-lists/register-of-parties/local-government-register-of-parties . 9 July 2024.
  2. Web site: Raue . Ben . Assessing the political impact of the missing Liberals . The Tally Room . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240912160843/https://www.tallyroom.com.au/56343 . 12 September 2024 . 17 August 2024.
  3. Web site: Hutchinson . Andy . Smears, Lies and Idiots - The Far Right's Assault on Shoalhaven Council . New Bush Telegraph . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240526055251/https://newbushtelegraph.org.au/smears-lies-and-idiots-the-far-rights-assault-on-shoalhaven-council/ . 26 May 2024 . 15 August 2021.
  4. Web site: Raue . Ben . Shoalhaven council election, 2024 . 30 December 2023 . The Tally Room . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240910160830/https://www.tallyroom.com.au/nswcouncil2024/shoalhaven2024/ . 10 September 2024.
  5. Web site: The Shoalhaven Independents . Heads News . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240915040406/https://www.headsnews.com.au/New-Heads-News.pdf . 15 September 2024 . 5 . September 2024.
  6. Web site: Shoalhaven Independents back on the Roads . ulladulla.info . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240915040339/https://ulladulla.info/shoalhaven-independents-back-on-the-roads/ . 15 September 2024 . 28 August 2024.
  7. Web site: Raue . Ben . Shoalhaven council election, 2021 . 5 May 2021 . The Tally Room . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240505021025/https://www.tallyroom.com.au/archive/nswcouncil2021/shoalhaven2021 . 5 May 2024.
  8. Web site: Shoalhaven City Council . ABC News . 11 January 2010 . 13 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20100111024102/http://www.abc.net.au:80/elections/nsw/2008/council/?page=Shoalhaven . 2010-01-11 .
  9. Web site: Shoalhaven City Council . ABC News . 19 January 2022 . 8 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20220119125438/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2012/council/?page=Shoalhaven . 2022-01-19 .
  10. Web site: Shoalhaven City Council Mayoral Contest . New South Wales Electoral Commission . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170813122621/https://pastvtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LGE2016/shoalhaven-city-council/mayoral/summary.htm . 13 August 2017 . 10 September 2016.
  11. Web site: City of Shoalhaven . ABC News . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230502095208/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2021/shoalhaven . 2 May 2023 . 4 December 2021.
  12. Web site: Clifford . Jessica . How Shoalhaven's next Mayor will manage disasters, a south coast priority for local elections . ABC News . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530223038/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-25/mayoral-candidates-shoalhaven-key-priority-disaster-mitigation/100645836 . 30 May 2024 . 25 November 2021.
  13. Web site: Arnold . Alex . Team Gash to control Shoalhaven council . Illawarra Mercury . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160204205248/https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/348828/team-gash-to-control-shoalhaven-council/ . 4 February 2016 . 21 September 2012.
  14. Web site: Fist . Rebecca . Joanna Gash, Patricia White and John Wells end allegiance on Shoalhaven City Council . South Coast Register . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181003233324/https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/5682472/team-gash-in-major-crash-as-tempers-flare-after-council-meeting/ . 3 October 2018 . 3 October 2018.
  15. Web site: Speech - Councillor Greg Watson . Fiona Phillips MP . 4 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240904223401/https://www.fionaphillips.com.au/media/speeches-transcripts-media-releases/speech-councillor-greg-watson/ . 4 September 2024 . 19 August 2024.
  16. Web site: Ellard . Greg . Patricia White leads Shoalhaven Independents into council election . South Coast Register . 4 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240904023835/https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/8630948/shoalhaven-independents-group-launches-campaign-for-council-election/ . 4 September 2024 . 16 May 2024.
  17. Web site: Andrea . Peter . Shoalhaven Independents to re-introduce Australia Day Awards and Ceremonies . 2ST . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240523113255/https://www.2st.com.au/local-news/shoalhaven/shoalhaven-independents-to-re-introduce-australia-day-awards-and-ceremonies/ . 23 May 2024 . 16 January 2024.
  18. Web site: Ellard . Glenn . Growing push to return citizen ceremonies to Australia Day . Milton Ulladulla Times . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240304201344/https://www.ulladullatimes.com.au/story/8491554/shoalhaven-councillors-call-for-return-of-australia-day-citizenship-ceremonies/ . 4 March 2024 . 19 January 2024.
  19. Web site: Developers' donations pushed team to coastal victory . Sydney Morning Herald . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240915030513/https://www.smh.com.au/national/developers-donations-pushed-team-to-coastal-victory-20041221-gdkcrt.html . 15 September 2024 . 21 December 2004.
  20. Web site: More corporate funds for mayor's group . Sydney Morning Herald . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240915032027/https://www.smh.com.au/national/more-corporate-funds-for-mayors-group-20080910-gdsuch.html . 15 September 2024 . 10 September 2008.
  21. Web site: Hatton . John . Planning in NSW is out of control . Sydney Morning Herald . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829073310/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/planning-in-nsw-is-out-of-control-20091102-hrt0.html . 29 August 2024 . 2 November 2009.
  22. Web site: Frew . Wendy . Council accused of cheap land sale . Sydney Morning Herald . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240915040735/https://www.smh.com.au/national/council-accused-of-cheap-land-sale-20080408-gds8kd.html . 15 September 2024 . 8 April 2008.
  23. Web site: Wheeldon . David . Mayor's party broke the law . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161103170507/https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/990885/mayors-party-broke-the-law/ . 3 November 2016 . 16 March 2008.
  24. Web site: Businessman defends Watson donations . ABC News . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161029153817/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-05-15/businessman-defends-watson-donations/2437196 . 29 October 2016 . 16 May 2008.
  25. Web site: Hanscombe . John . Secret dossier on donations outed by Nile . South Coast Register . 15 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240915031535/https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/991421/secret-dossier-on-donations-outed-by-nile/ . 15 September 2024 . 13 May 2008.

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