This week's Minute with Mayor McKibbin

August 20, 2026

Oberon Community Services Expo was held on Thursday 6 August at the Oberon Library and Community Centre between 4pm and 8 pm. The event was a tremendous success with 44 stall holders on site representing a mix of schools, aged care, health, sporting groups, medical service providers, emergency services responders, community service providers, heritage preservation/restoration groups. There was a record attendance by members of the community. A scavenger hunt was conducted to engage the children attending and to increase the awareness by the community of local services. A wonderful display of artwork created by local children for the Local Government Week Colouring Competition adorned the walls, while a community BBQ hosted by the Oberon Men's Shed and a face-painting activity helped create a welcoming, 3 family-friendly atmosphere.

The Council Section 356 Donations were announced at the Community Services Expo to successful organisations. This year, 39 recipients will receive funding through the program, with a total of $39,625 being distributed to support community groups and organisations across the Oberon local government area.

In April 2026, Oberon Council resolved to refer a Councillor's conduct on social media, following the double-fatality motor vehicle accident at Black Springs in January 2026, to the Ofﬁce of Local Government (OLG). This followed receipt of an independent investigation report commissioned by Council into the matter. Based on the ﬁndings of that investigation, Council recommended that the OLG remove the Councillor from ofﬁce and disqualify her from nominating for election as a councillor for a period of ﬁve years. Council's recommendation reﬂected ﬁndings that the conduct caused harm to affected individuals, families, members of the community and Council employees together with signiﬁcantly undermining public conﬁdence in Council. The conduct formed part of an ongoing pattern of inﬂammatory social media commentary. In July 2026, the OLG advised Council it would not progress the matter further.

Oberon Council recognises that this OLG determination will be disappointing for some members of the community, particularly those who raised concerns or made complaints regarding the conduct that was the subject of the investigation. While Council acknowledges the OLG decision, it remains concerned about the broader implications for councils seeking meaningful avenues to address serious misconduct that undermines public conﬁdence in local government.

OLG has released a revised draft Model Code of Conduct for consultation, to be read alongside the Free Speech Guidelines for Councillors issued in 2025. Council is concerned these documents place greater emphasis on freedom of expression and may reduce the scope for regulatory intervention in matters of councillor conduct. Council is particularly concerned by the proposed removal of the existing provision relating to conduct that brings a council or councillors into disrepute. In Council's view, this may reduce the ability of the regulatory framework to respond to conduct that causes signiﬁcant community concern or undermines public conﬁdence in local government. Both Council and l have lodged submissions on the draft Model Code of Conduct outlining concerns regarding these proposed changes and their potential impact on accountability, workplace culture, Work Health & Safety of council staff, community wellbeing and public conﬁdence in local government. These submissions are available on Council's website, and l encourage members of the Oberon community and surrounding communities to read them. As Mayor, I will always continue to advocate for respectful conduct, accountability and the high standards our community expects of its elected representatives. Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of local democracy, and councillors should be able to express their views openly. However, with that freedom comes a responsibility to act in a way that maintains public conﬁdence and reﬂects the standards our communities rightly expect of their elected representatives. lf conduct results in existing or potential candidates deciding not to stand for Council, then this will see the demise of democracy in local government. Trust and conﬁdence needs to remain and be encouraged in local government.

Andrew McKibbin
Mayor