In a significant development at the Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Councillor Andrew Thaler has been suspended due to alleged misconduct issues. The suspension, is enforced by an order from Brett Whitworth, Deputy Secretary of the Office of Local Government, as a result of the reported ongoing scrutiny over councillor behaviour.
PHOTO: Mr Thaler at the Meet the candidates talk in Jindabyne prior to the election.
Thaler’s suspension, effective from May 13, 2025, extends until August 4, 2025, representing a three-month period during which he will be absent from his official duties. This decision comes after assessments and a departmental report that highlighted inappropriate conduct related to comments made online. The findings claimed necessitated disciplinary actions to maintain the integrity of the council’s operations.
Mr Thaler told Snowy Mountains News, “I haven’t been given any information from the Office of Local Government. So this is how trial by media in a kangaroo court works.”
“This is the punishment for telling the truth, this is the punishment for demanding Council clean up its asbestos. This is the punishment for demanding Council compensate properties that were damaged by the council.. the punishment for standing up for the community.”
The suspension of Councillor Thaler is based upon s.440I(2)(g) of the Local Government Act 1993. This section provides specific legal grounds upon which a councillor can be suspended, aiming to uphold standards of conduct within local government offices. The direct intervention from the Office of Local Government reflects increasing demands for accountability and professionalism among public officials.
PHOTO: Mr Thaler has been directed to make a public apology.
In addition to the suspension, Councillor Thaler is mandated to issue an apology, as prescribed by s.440I(2)(d) of the same Act. This apology must meet several specific conditions: it must be in writing, addressed to individuals mentioned in the online comments described in the departmental report dated April 15, 2025, and be made publicly available. The apology is to be posted on any social media platforms where Councillor Thaler has content creation or production contributor affiliations, ensuring broad accessibility and public acknowledgment of the misconduct.
The written apology must be submitted to the General Manager (GM) of the Snowy Monaro Regional Council. The GM holds discretion to publish the apology through channels likely to reach the maximum number of residents across the Snowy Monaro community. This condition aims to ensure transparency and public communication, reinforcing trust within the community by visibly addressing the misconduct.
Mr Thaler maintains he has nothing to apologise for saying, “I do not
accept the power of the Office of Local Government. I do not accept their decision. I have never accepted their decision, and this is all about protecting Labor from accountability.”
Moving forward, it is yet to be seen whether Mr Thaler will provide an apology or whether he will as advised seek legal action with the support of the public.
“I’m only going to do it if the public backs me on that, the public
didn’t back me in the federal election, so if the public aren’t going to back me, what’s the point.”
UPDATE:
In a media release issued by Snowy Monaro Regional Council at 4:37pm today May 6, council acknowledged having received advice from the NSW Office of Local Government (OLG) on Monday May 5, 2025. Chief Executive Officer Stephen Dunshea said, “Without respect and decency as the starting point, the position of local government within the community and in public life is put in jeopardy.”
“As CEO, I appreciate the OLG for taking action. This suspension notice will assist me in safeguarding the health and well-being of our staff and elected councillors.”
“Respect and decency are not negotiable. These principles must be upheld by each of us as public servants – people who serve the public – no matter our position within the structure of government or public administration.”
We don’t want Councillor Thaler suspended, nor do we want an apology. We want the councillors that set him up to be removed from office…the CEO, the Mayor, and his cronies.
So Mr Thaler doesn’t recognise the OLG, Mr Thaler doesn’t recognise council. But he stood for election with a recognition of the entity of Council which further implies a recognition of the OLG. You cannot become a part of a branch of government and then deny its existence or validity. Similarly he stood for the Federal election, that implies a recognition of the legitimacy of Federal government and the Australian Constitution. It is valid to stand for election to a democratic body so that you can work from within for change but it is anarchy to use any position you may gain for outright destruction.
Keep up the good work. I think Thaler’s a serial pest. Pity he didn’t get elected to the Senate – he could have sat alongside his kindred spirit Lydia Thorpe – imagine a matching pair of useless noisy galahs on the public teat.