Following last week's Lismore City Council meeting, two rescission motions have been submitted, which has led to an extraordinary council meeting to be held today at 10am.

The timing of when the rescission motions will be heard has caused consternation for some councillors, as they thought the motions would be part of the September ordinary meeting. The result has caused one councillor (Cr) to declare she will be unable to attend, while the other went on the attack against the Steve Krieg team, who defended his position.

It really is like watching a local soap opera.

The recession motions involve Withdrawing Old Council Policies (11.8) and writing a letter to the government regarding the future use of the East Lismore Pod Village (11.3).

The motions were lodged by Crs Jasmine Knight-Smith, Virginia Waters and Adam Guise for 11.8 and Crs Harper Dalton-Earls, Virginia Waters and Jasmine Knight-Smith for 11.3.

Cr Knight-Smith was the first to declare her absence yesterday afternoon on social media.

"Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the extraordinary meeting scheduled for this Thursday.

"There are two items on the agenda, The Removal of Old Policies and Advocacy to the State to retain the East Lismore Pod Village post its December 2026 shut down date.

"I had been led to believe our rescission motions would be dealt with at the September ordinary meeting. The short-notice change means I’m unable to attend."

Cr Waters followed an hour later to express her displeasure at the decision to hold an extraordinary meeting instead of including it in the September meeting, but more directly.

"Mayor Kreig’s voting bloc on Lismore City Council has forced through an Extraordinary Meeting this Thursday, 21 August, in a move that effectively disenfranchises parts of our community. By scheduling the meeting during daytime work hours, they have ensured that councillors with work commitments and the voices of residents we represent won’t be in the chamber.

It is horrifying that such tactics are being used. Our community expects fair and open governance, not manoeuvres that sideline debate and restrict democratic representation.

Two rescission motions are on the agenda, of which I support both. One seeks to keep the East Lismore pod village open beyond December 2026 for housing that is desperately needed for people experiencing homelessness, women and children escaping domestic violence, vulnerable residents and essential workers. The other challenges the rushed revocation of council policies, raising questions about governance standards and due diligence.

Councillors had been led to believe these items would be heard at the 9 September ordinary meeting. Instead, they have been brought forward, ensuring some elected representatives cannot take part. This is more than bad process, it strips the community of its full voice in the chamber and leaves decisions in the hands of a narrow bloc.

I will bring a motion in September to set aside an overflow day and time for unfinished meetings and extraordinary meetings. This would give councillors certainty and protect the democratic process. Whether or not councillors support it, I will keep pushing for transparency, accountability and fairness.

For me, this isn’t abstract. When I’m excluded from the chamber, it’s not just me who is shut out it’s the people who put their trust in me to carry their voices. That’s what makes this so alarming. Democracy doesn’t work when it’s controlled by a few at the expense of the many.

Update: Unfortunately, I will not be able to make an amendment to the Code of Meeting Practice regarding scheduling Extraordinary Meetings due to the LGA Act giving all authority for scheduling to the Mayor - let’s hope Mayor Kreig in future takes into account Councillors who work daytime hours.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg, then explained his reasons.

"Looks like our newest elected officials are a bit upset about the process of council.

"Fair enough, I understand that it’s a bit overwhelming, I still face many challenges daily.

"But it looks like they have had the proverbial dummy spit because they don’t get their own way, and because there is an outcry on said pages about wanting to hear the other sideof the story: right of reply following:

1. Two councillors just ‘assumed recission motions would go to September meeting’. Our agendas are full enough. We don’t need to clog them up with recissions as well. The fact is that when there is a recission, that decision of council can’t be acted upon, so deal with it, one way or another, so that it can be finalised and move on.
2. When an extraordinary meeting is called, I have to act within timeframes. I have followed the Code of Meeting Practice and called the meeting within those timeframes. Some councillors seem to think the organisation should revolve around their schedule. I note one who is complaining she has to work, but she met with the GM in the middle of a work day, and lucky her, she had no issues being absent for two months on holiday, missing 2 meetings, many briefings and other council functions, with not a word about scheduling those things to a time that suits.

"I’m not begrudging anyone having a holiday, but don’t pick and choose what suits you and what doesn’t.

"The other councillor upset about the timing of the extraordinary meeting regularly shows up to media, or other photo opportunities, only to miss briefings or workshops to get information critical for upcoming reports to council.

"It is becoming common practice for said councillor to storm out of ordinary meetings or other forums when she perceives an ‘attack on art’

"Why is our arts scene a sacred cow, unable to be discussed or debated like every other arm of our council operations?

"In conclusion: Being a councillor is not a lifestyle choice. The operation of council does not revolve around individual timetables. To quote one of my fellow councillors Facebook rants ‘The Kreig block’ (for the record, I before e) also work, we all manage our work lives to attend these extraordinary meetings triggered by spiteful rescissions."

Where you stand on the war of words more than likely depends on how you voted at the last Lismore City Council elections. Unfortunately, for those in the minority, Steve Krieg returned as Lismore Mayor with 66.24% of the vote after preferences and five councillors on his ticket, giving the independent candidate a majority of six councillors out of eleven.

That is a strong vote of confidence from the people of Lismore. The beauty of democracy, though, is that everyone can have their say, even if it may lead to no result.