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Shoalhaven Independents Group

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Political party in New South Wales
Shoalhaven Independents Group
Abbreviation
  • SIG
LeaderPatricia White
FounderGreg Watson
HeadquartersVincentia, New South Wales, Australia
IdeologyLocalism
Conservative
Political positionRight-wing
Slogan"Community Honesty Experience Integrity"
Shoalhaven City Council4 / 13

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.

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

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. 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.

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. The party had endorsed three candidates for the mayoral election, including former Team Gash councillor Patricia White.

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

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. The donations to SIG for the 2004 election totalled $91,017.

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.

References

  1. ^ "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.

External links

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