Despite suspending Gareth Ward, the state government won't explain how the voice of Kiama residents will be heard in parliament.
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Last Thursday, the parliament approved a government motion to suspend Mr Ward after he had been charged with sexual abuse offences.
Mr Ward refutes the allegations and is prepared to defend them in court.
The motion sees Mr Ward suspended until a jury returns a verdict or parliament rescinds the suspension; in the meantime he is not allowed to enter the parliamentary chambers.
It also leaves the Kiama electorate without representation in parliament.
The Mercury sent a list of questions to Acting Premier Paul Toole's office, asking if the government had created any plans to ensure Kiama residents weren't left out in the cold until the 2023 election.
An office spokeswoman said they would not be making any comment and directed the Mercury to Mr Toole's statements in parliament last week - none of which dealt with the issue of Kiama's representation.
Kiama Mayor Neil Reilly said council had not been officially notified about who will represent the region in parliament.
"With regard to representation, I'm disappointed because we always had a direct line to the state government and now we have to go to some other option that hasn't been made clear," Cr Reilly said.
"I'm disappointed in the overall scheme of things that we were never contacted. We had a media release from Gareth just to say that he was going to defend his innocence and still represent us. I don't know what mechanism that's going to take."
Cr Reilly felt that, despite the suspension of the local member, council did have other ways to get their point across to the government on significant matters.
"We have a good strong Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation which gives us an opportunity to speak directly with the state government via regional NSW," he said.
"I'm sure we'll be able to work through it."
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Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
