News
3 November, 2026
Expulsion sets ‘toxic precedent’
The expulsion of Wingecarribee Shire councillor Sara Moylan from council’s October meeting has set a “toxic precedent” according to coordinator of the Southern Highlands Community Forum, Dr Raymond Khoury.
The expulsion of Wingecarribee Shire councillor Sara Moylan from council’s October meeting has set a “toxic precedent” according to coordinator of the Southern Highlands Community Forum, Dr Raymond Khoury.
Dr Khoury accused councillors of weaponising the Code of Conduct to “suffocate free speech”.
As previously reported by The Southern Wire, Deputy Mayor David Kent accused Cr Moylan of bringing council into disrepute during debate over a proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) when she suggested that ratepayers funds were being wasted.
Mayor Erin Foley upheld the act of disorder and when Cr Moylan refused to retract or apologise for her comment she was expelled from the chamber for the remainder of the meeting.
It meant she was unable to vote on the proposed SRV and a number of other items – including her own Notice of Motion relating to Section 68 certificates.
Council subsequently issued a statement saying the decision to remove Cr Moylan from the chamber had been made in accordance with section 10.2A of the Local Government Act 1993 and clause 15.15 of Council's Code of Meeting Practice.
“The Code of Meeting Practice is prescribed under the NSW local government framework and establishes the rules for the conduct of council meetings, including provisions for maintaining order and respectful debate,” the statement said.
“Wingecarribee Shire Council remains committed to conducting its meetings in accordance with legislative requirements and ensuring orderly, respectful and lawful proceedings.”
However many people are unhappy with the decision to expel Cr Moylan from the chamber, with some claiming it was a pre-meditated move to prevent her from speaking out.
The incident is now set to be raised in NSW Parliament by Libertarian MLC John Ruddick.
Dr Khoury described the decision as a “gross injustice” and said councillors and the community would suffer as a result.
“A precedent has been set.
“We need to act now or it will become the norm,” he said.
Dr Khoury said a Facebook post accusing council of “violating” the rules meant to govern debate had been viewed by 15,700 people.
He urged local residents to take the matter one step forward and to write to the “appropriate bodies” including the Office of Local Government, the NSW Ombudsman, Member for Wollondilly Judy Hannan, Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig, John Ruddick MLC or Shadow Minister for Local Government Adam Crouch.
One Facebook user described Cr Moylan’s expulsion as a “set up from the start” while another described it as “workplace bullying at its best”.
Megan Dunn said the expulsion was “deeply concerning and an affront to democratic principles”.
“Councillor Moylan was speaking up for residents who are struggling with the cost of living and who simply cannot afford a proposed 34.4 per cent rate increase,” she said.
“Surely, representing the interests of the community is precisely what elected councillors are there to do?”
Julia Westfield said the only action that had brought council into disrepute was Cr Kent’s “absurd” objection to a perfectly acceptable comment.
Letters have already been written to the Independent Planning and Administrative Tribunal (IPART) raising concerns about the integrity of council’s decision-making process in relation to the SRV.
IPART will have the final say on whether or not the SRV is introduced.
Ingrid Skirka, in her letter to IPART, said Cr Moylan’s expulsion was evidence that “legitimate debate regarding ratepayer hardship and the impact of the proposed rate increase is being actively suppressed”.
She said the incident demonstrated refusal by council leadership to allow open, transparent debate on the proposed impact of the proposed SRV.
“A consultation process cannot be considered robust or transparent when elected members who relay community objections are systematically silenced and ejected from official proceedings,” she said.
Libertarian MLC John Ruddick said he was “appalled” by the incident and also posted a link to the Livesteam footage of Cr Moylan’s expulsion on Facebook.
“This is as dangerous as it is comical,” Mr Ruddick said.
“Freedom of speech includes the right to criticise wasteful spending.”
“If criticism of council rates as ‘wasteful’ can be considered as bringing a council into disrepute which can then be used to expel a sitting councillor then I highly encourage urgent changes must be made by the Minister to represent this weaponisation of the Code of Meeting Practice.”
Mr Ruddick will be raising the incident in Parliament on Tuesday, November 10 at approximately 12.30pm.
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Disclaimer.The publishers wife is a councillor at WSC and had no involvement in this piece.
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