Dressed mostly in black, some with white roses in hand, a small group gathered for a sombre ceremony in Kiama on Friday.
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Liberal Kiama MP Gareth Ward’s electorate office was the backdrop for a mock funeral, as about 20 Shellharbour residents and councillors marked “the death of democracy”.
As a cool wind whipped along Terralong Street, the “Shellharbour soldiers” kept the heat on the Baird government – part of their continued fight to stave off a looming council merger with Wollongong.
Tony Pratt – a Warilla resident of 50 years – was one of four pallbearers as “Democracy’s” coffin was carried along the street, turning a few heads along the way.
“I’m very disappointed at the way things have gone; before Christmas it was all about councils and saving money … now it’s a political ball game,” Mr Pratt, 59, said.
“It’s a ‘wipe out the Labor and put in the Liberals’, it’s got nothing to do with ratepayers any more, we’re not even in the picture any more.
“Even though this might not do anything, at least it symbolises the death of democracy and the beginning of the nanny state.” Heads were bowed as Liberal Shellharbour councillor Kellie Marsh read a prayer blessing “the wonderful people of Shellharbour” and calling for help to maintain democracy.
“We, the people, need spiritual intervention, and all the intervention we can get, to save this great city,” the prayer read.
Councillor Marsh later described the occasion as “a very sad day in the history of Shellharbour”. “We all unite together as family because Shellharbour is not only a city to us, Shellharbour is our friend,” she said.
About 14,000 how-to-vote cards listing Mr Ward, the Illawarra’s parliamentary secretary, last were also delivered to the MP’s office.
The number of cards represents the number of Shellharbour City Council residents living in Mr Ward’s electorate.
Mr Ward described the funeral as “a stunt”, citing the court battle that has pulled the handbrake on the planned merger. He said if Shellharbour mayor, Marianne Saliba, was “looking to find the person to blame … she needs a mirror”.
“When it comes to killing off democracy, Labor are the local experts,” he said.
“In a twist of irony, Marianne Saliba didn’t even seek permission from Kiama council before undertaking today’s demonstration.”
Councillor Saliba said; “isn’t it about time that Gareth Ward grew up, seriously?”.
“I don’t how many other councils in NSW have all been merged and I’m sure that they can’t all be attributed to me. He’s being very, very immature and very petty,” she said.
“He gets paid to be the parliamentary secretary and he’s not representing the people he is expected to represent.”
The government has given in-principle support for a combined Wollongong-Shellharbour council.
Even though this might not do anything, at least it symbolises the death of democracy.
- Resident Tony Pratt