Disputes between ratepayers and councils are very common and not a reason to set up a PI. I believe that this is so in the case of the Wingecarribee Shire. It's important to remember that this PI has stopped a democratic election of a new crop of councillors for up to two years. And to what end?

Last year, the Mayor sought the help of the OLG to contain the behaviour of two unruly councillors. From that, Ms Hancock ordered a welcome performance improvement order (PIO), to which the second report was never made public (the first awarded the councillors a pass with flying colours). I have asked the OLG for a copy of the second report into the PIO but haven't received a response as yet.

Following the end of the PIO, and without the benefit of the second report, Ms Hancock suspended the remaining six elected councillors and installed an interim administrator (IA). Looking at the published reasons, there is no real evidence of the need for this. The results of the PIO do not correlate with her "findings".

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Then we had the decimation of senior staff by the IA, who has surgically removed over 200 years of experience in the council. As I type, many WSC staff are leaving. I wonder why? The IA is installing people without any community consultation.

It appears that Ms Hancock was harangued by a small number of very noisy WSC ratepayers who had a bone to pick with council, some over many, many years, and little to do with the suspended councillors. The two Liberal State representatives and the IA (of course, and inappropriately) also bayed loudly for the suspension and, later, once all the formal processes had been ticked off, the PI and the election delay.

So, all this begs the question, why?

My concern is that our best interests, as ratepayers, won't be served by delaying the election of the next crop of councillors. The PI is like a tip looking for a non-existent iceberg! Most of the staff implicated have been removed by the IA and the suspended councillors have been gagged for six months.

I urge Ms Hancock to reconsider her decision and allow the election to go ahead on December 4, in the name of democracy. Only then will we know the will of the people. If she is unwilling to change her mind, then I urge her to include the IA, Viv May, as a target for the PI as he has wreaked havoc on the WSC in just six months. This is a shameful episode in the life of the WSC. Democracy must be reinstated ASAP!

What would Solomon do if he were in Government today? Probably have a word with Premiers, those that are playing politics. While most of us are trying to come to terms with the conditions that are so challenging, a proposal to go forward is welcome news.

Unfortunately, even the least educated among us have become vaccination experts, they and their protesting mates have undermined the way out of the pandemic.

I thought we were all in this together, perhaps we have taken our freedom for granted.

Our Rights!

The protesters were out in force today

They don't want to be locked down

They have rights, don't they?

The right to freedom, to party,

Well! Yes, but so do you and I

Competing rights, it's a problem

Whose rights are most right?

Can't see my children, grandchildren

My dying sister, to say goodbye,

So! Who is right, who is wrong?

Should we ask those who are sick?

The frontline workers perhaps?

Or the families of those who have died?