Re-elected Lismore City Councillor Big Rob has taken the unusual step of taking the affirmation of office as a Lismore City Councillor for the next four years six days early.

The normal procedure is for all eleven councillors to be sworn in an hour before next Tuesday's first official 6pm Lismore City Council meeting. The team then has a group photo taken, as per below from 2021.

It remains to be seen whether Councillor (Cr) Rob decides to be in the photo. It could be that the Lismore City Councillor photo only has ten (10) people. Like many school photos, when a student was absent, there may be a sub-note saying; absent Councillor Big Rob.

On his Facebook page, Big Rob said, "Since it has been made very clear what I am to expect going forward. I didn't feel like playing happy families and waiting to be sworn in next week with individuals who dislike me, so I decided to take the affirmation of office this morning."

Councillor Rob also posted a copy of the document signed by a Justice of the Peace.

The idea of taking the affirmation of office was initially completed by Andrew Thaler, who was recently elected to the Snowy Monaro Regional Council. Councillor Thaler was blocked from entering council's building (this was withdrawn yesterday before its first council meeting later today), so Cr Thaler sought an alternative method to be affirmed.

Mayor Steve Krieg told the Lismore App that Cr Rob has not done anything illegal. Each councillor has to take an oath of affirmation.

"Cr Rob has his own reasons for doing what he does. I am not sitting in judgment one way or the other. If this is a comfortable process for Cr Rob, then it is fine. He has done nothing wrong; it is his choice."

"As the mayor, I will work with all councillors for the betterment of the Lismore LGA. We won't agree on all outcomes that are put forward, and I hold no ill will for those who act differently to myself as long as it is acting according to the current legislation."

Former councillor Darlene Cook was more critical of Cr Rob's actions yesterday. She wrote the following to the Lismore App:

As a retiring Councillor, I was offered a chance to reflect on my time on Council at the final meeting in August. One point I raised was my belief that Lismore desperately needed a Council that could put aside its differences and work collaboratively as leaders of the community to help the city recover and rebuild after the 2022 floods.

I expressed my disappointment that the Council, as a whole, had failed to take that step forward and that the disunity, the meeting disruptions and personality clashes continued to the detriment, I believe, of the Council’s ability to set a clear pathway for the future of the city.

During the weeks of the election period candidates across the political spectrum spoke together about the issues Lismore and its villages face in planning for the future. There was consistent agreement that the Councillors must work together to bring any vision for the future to reality.

The official declaration of Council election results on 1st October heralded in the new Lismore City Council team for the next four years, with a mix of experience and some new faces to add fresh insights to the debate. My hope has been that this new Council would start the new term with a genuine determination for greater unity and leadership.  

So I am angry that today, before the Council has had a chance to meet formally, be officially sworn in and commence work, one Councillor has already set a different direction for himself.

Councillor Rob has been a critic of council for many years. He has run extensive campaigns against council, individual council staff and Councillors on his many social media pages. His derogatory comments about some individuals continued during the election and in more recent weeks.

Councillor Rob does not see himself as a team player. And, judging by the comments he made today, he does not see himself as part of any effort for this Council to work more cooperatively together for the future of Lismore.

Sadly, it appears likely that the disturbances and clashes between Councillor Rob and other Councillors and staff will continue this term.

If you were thinking that there might be more unity during the next council term of four years, it appears that thinking involved hope that has now been destroyed.

Next Tuesday's first council meeting will certainly be an interesting, but not necessarily a must, watch.

The Lismore App has been in contact with Cr Rob and did receive a statement. That statement included a paragraph with allegations aimed at councillors (no names). The Lismore App prides itself on balanced reporting, that is, both sides of the story. As this wasn't possible because the names were not provided and the offending paragraph could not be removed, we cannot print the statement.