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]
Shoalhaven Independents Group | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation |
|
| Leader | Patricia White |
| Founder | Greg Watson |
| Headquarters | Vincentia, New South Wales, Australia[1] |
| Ideology | Localism Conservative[2] |
| Political position | Right-wing[3][4] |
| Slogan | "Community Honesty Experience Integrity"[5] |
| Shoalhaven City Council | 4 / 13 |
The party is currently registered with the New South Wales Electoral Commission (NSWEC).[1]
History
editShoalhaven 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
editDonations
editFollowing 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
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Raue, Ben (30 December 2023). "Shoalhaven council election, 2024". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "The Shoalhaven Independents" (PDF). Heads News. September 2024. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "Shoalhaven Independents back on the Roads". ulladulla.info. 28 August 2024. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Raue, Ben (5 May 2021). "Shoalhaven council election, 2021". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "Shoalhaven City Council". ABC News. 13 September 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-01-11. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
- ^ "Shoalhaven City Council". ABC News. 8 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "City of Shoalhaven". ABC News. 4 December 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Speech - Councillor Greg Watson". Fiona Phillips MP. 19 August 2024. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Wheeldon, David (16 March 2008). "Mayor's party broke the law". Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "Businessman defends Watson donations". ABC News. 16 May 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ 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.