Swim for a great cause p3
Honouring Sam’s legacy p6
Hold your horses p14
FREE COMMUNITY PAPER DIGITAL EDITION Covering the Kiama LGA and beyond
[ 16 August 2025 ]
Kiama is off to the polls Paul Suttor
T
he heavy hitters were out in force as NSW Premer Chris Minns and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman visited the Kiama electorate during the week to announce their candidates for the 13 September by-election. Minns dropped by Kiama on Thursday to throw his support behind Katelin McInerney while Speakman travelled to North Nowra on Friday where Serena Copley launched her campaign for the vacant seat. Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds has also announced she will be contesting the by-election with the Greens also expected
to put up a candidate. The deadline for nominations is 28 August and early voting will open on 6 September. The NSW Government announced the by-election earlier this week after last Friday’s resignation of former independent MP Gareth Ward, who is in jail in Cessnock awaiting sentencing on 19 September after his conviction on four sexual assault offences. Ward resigned less than an hour before NSW Parliament was due to expel him for “unworthy conduct”, which had not been done to a sitting MP since 1917. Minns and Speakman each claimed underdog status for their candidate at the upcoming poll. More than
20,000 people in the 2023 election voted for Ward as he held on for a narrow win over McInerney after a swing of more than 11% against him. “We're excited about this byelection but if I'm going to be honest with you, I think we're both a bit nervous about it, too,” Minns said. “But we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks. “We know that there's a big challenge ahead for NSW Labor. We take absolutely nothing for granted. And we want to engage with the local community person by person, voter by voter, to understand what this community needs, what the opportunities are for one of the most beautiful places in Australia, if not the world, and what the
challenges are that the NSW government, need to work around the clock on behalf of the local community for. “We will be saying to the local community that you've got a candidate in Katelin and a potential member of parliament, although you'll make that decision, who'll be a strong voice in my government. “Someone that won't be ignored. Someone who's a fantastically articulate and passionate advocate for her community.” Minns effectively ignored Ward in Parliament over the past two years - his questions were taken on notice and the Government moved swiftly to turf him out of Parliament once the guilty verdict was handed down late last month.
When asked h o w the former Ward supporters would vote this time around, Minns replied: “I really don't know. “It's really up to them to make a decision about who they think is best placed to represent Kiama over the next 18 months and then beyond that for the next general election.” McInerney, like the Premier, did not mention Ward by name in the 30-minute media conference to announce her candidacy. “The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years and I believe that what people are telling me they want is a strong voice in Parliament,” she said. “They want strong
representation onthe floor at Macquarie Street and they want that person to be someone who can deliver on the things they need and what we need in our region.” Speakman said Labor had turned its back on the people of Kiama by not investing in the infrastructure and services this area needed. “Under the Liberals, we saw a record amount of investment in infrastructure here in the Kiama electorate,” he said. “But Labor are doing absolutely nothing. In two and a half years, Labor has turned its back on the people of Kiama. People in Kiama, like Continues on Page 4