Opinion Piece by Nicole Smith, Deputy Lead Candidate for Let’s Get It Right
Southern Highlands Express
The Public Inquiry Needs You!
It’s time to speak up, before it’s too late. The deadline for submissions to the Public Inquiry into Wingecarribee Shire Council is looming – if you have an issue to raise – now is the time.
The Public Inquiry will be an important turning point for our community. It’s a chance to finally have transparency into the machinations of council. It’s time to get to the bottom of what went on in the past so that we can learn from it, hold the relevant people to account and to put the systems in place to ensure it never happens again.
The Public Inquiry promises to be fascinating. Who knows what it will shine a light on? Was there corruption? Were there deals for the boys? Interference by some councillors? Manipulation by some members of senior management? Bullying of staff members? Disregard for the community? Wasted funds and resources? We can only guess, but the key is, it will only be as insightful as the information put before it, so it’s essential that if you feel that you had a bad experience, or are aware of something that went on that wasn’t right, I urge you to speak up now.
The role of council and councillors is in service to our community. However, I have no doubt that there were some that saw it more as self-serving and used their position in self-interest rather than in the interests and needs of the community. This behaviour needs to be exposed and the people in question need to be held to account. No bickering or politics, just the facts.
If you, or someone you know has an experience or issue that you feel could be relevant, I urge you to come forward now. It all forms part of a broader story, and who knows, you may have an experience that may not feel like the biggest thing in the world – but if 10 other people have had a similar experience, it builds a bigger, stronger story.
To build a strong and vibrant future for our community, we must first have full insight into where the cracks lie.
For more information on the Public Inquiry, the ways to submit and the terms of reference visit: https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Council/Public-Inquiry
Nicole Smith, Candidate, LET’S GET IT RIGHT
Nicole Smith’s Opinion Piece in the Southern Highlands Express