Read the Room, Or Leave It.
The year-long quest for Mayor Patricia White to find an ideal CEO partner to run Shoalhaven Council isn't over yet.
Public and political backlash against the appointment of ex-politician Andrew Constance now has our region in metropolitan headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Gaping wounds in the organisation after the expensive and secretive ousting of Robyn Stevens (Nov '24), the sudden resignation of James Ruprai (Jul '25) and now the controversial appointment of Andrew Constance must be healed.
The Office of Local Government's (OLG) announcement of an investigation into Shoalhaven Council's CEO saga is being applauded - but not by all.
Here are the latest Sparks to fly from the controversy before we all enjoy a long weekend in our beautiful Shoalhaven.
by Cat Holloway
Stephen Blackadder, the professional recruiter contracted by Shoalhaven City Council to help fill the position, enthusiastically welcomed the OLG investigation as an opportunity to fully explain how Constance won the job and why he's a good fit for Shoalhaven.
"He's a most charming man who I think will do an outstanding job."
Cr Lou Casmiri supported Mayor Patricia White's choice for CEO because of his experience in dysfunctional businesses where the CEO and Chair did not agree.
"Andrew Constance ... (is) unlike other CEOs or directors that have been indoctrinated with the 'Council Culture'."
Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig announced that the Office of Local Government (OLG) will investigate the process leading to Mr. Constance accepting the top executive management role with a salary package of at least $400,000.
Liza Butler MP said there had been an "overwhelming" amount of community backlash.
Cr Debbie Killian explained why she was unable to connect online from Morocco to the fateful and divided confidential session of last Monday's Council meeting to vote on the CEO appointment.
"What has been going on since this council took over last September?"
Cr Ben Krikstolaitis said the CEO selection problems began with Cr Matt Norris being removed from the committee. He was also irritated about a leak of the name and background of the first preferred candidate who ultimately rejected the Council's offer.
"I do believe this to be a political appointment rather than one which is merit-based."
Cr Bob Proudfoot's forthright Spark interview attracted wide kudos - and some cranky responses originally directed at Proudfoot but quickly redirected to Spark. He maintains that Constance is a high-risk CEO appointment and the flawed selection process was a "means that doesn't justify the ends". (More below).
"Never wrestle with a pig because you get dirty and, besides, the pig likes it."
Councillor Jemma Tribe released her latest Council Catch-Up podcast episode, conspicuously (and judiciously) not adding to the drama and hearsay surrounding the two confidential sessions.
"The matter has led to a rift in the Shoalhaven Independents Group party."
Eye on Shoalhaven's prolific Stephen Prothero continues to examine the details of this unfolding situation. If you want to deep dive or intend to see this saga through to the finale, I suggest Stephen's Substack which considers many governance angles.
"Were the criteria designed to open the door for a high-profile political figure?"
Personal, Political, or Process?
Formal complaints from Federal and State MPs and councillors over probity surrounding Andrew Constance's contract with Shoalhaven Council likely triggered the OLG investigation into the appointment process.
But it is the massive public outcry about Constance's political reputation casting the darker shadow over his securing his first non-political job since resigning as a State MP in late 2021 then twice missing out on a Federal seat.
Both Mayor Patricia White and Cr Selena Clancy formally declared their political connection to the CEO candidate - Mayor White saying she had known Andrew Constance for 25 years.
They joined Shoalhaven Independents Group Cr Jason Cox campaigning for Constance during this year's Gilmore election.
However, both White and Clancy chose to stay as two of four councillors on the CEO selection committee long after Constance was shortlisted for the job, and then through two reportedly excruciating whole-Council meetings where the vote was split on Constance.
Fiona Phillips' scathing statement within an hour of the SCC announcement about Constance pointed to "political bastardry" and “jobs for Liberal mates” that did "not pass the pub test".
Thousands of people reacted to that media statement in agreement.
But Stephen Blackadder, a government executive recruitment specialist of 17 years, and with 20 years prior experience as a council general manager or executive, said Constance was one of the most impressive of the 37 Shoalhaven CEO applicants because of his "distinguished" government experience.
Stephen Blackadder Consulting (SBC) was contracted by Shoalhaven Council to facilitate the advertising, interviewing and shortlisting of candidates for the job.
He has recruited 165 Australian CEOs to date and joked that he "knows where the bodies are buried".
The company's recruitment package included advice and leadership training to prepare the selected new CEO and help achieve a smooth transition.
"I had met Andrew Constance just once, ten years ago at a Eurobodalla Shire Council event. Then in this process he applied for the job and I got to know him on numerous occasions," Mr Blackadder said.
"He's a most charming man who I think will do an outstanding job.
"The cloud over him is understandable – when politics gets involved it's unfortunate.
"Most general managers work for anyone, they are not politically connected.
"But in Queensland, after the council election before last, there was 110% changeover of CEOs - it can become very political.
"Andrew Constance has resigned from the Liberal party - he's no longer a member but he's got that background and he's being vilified for it.
"His MP experience on the South Coast is one of his meritorious characteristics and he's got a passion for this place.
"He applied for this job not only because he thinks he can do it but because he wants to give back to this area, so he has very good motivation for wanting to be the CEO."
Blackadder disagreed that selection committee members with a connection to Constance should have stepped away to avoid accusations of bias and enable Constance to apply on merit alone.
He said some Councils found it challenging to accept executives from outside Local Government but that Andrew Constance's background in State government provided him with significant understanding of council operations.
"Local government is a creature of the State government," Blackadder said.
"He (Constance) was the Treasurer of New South Wales...he will bring significant financial expertise to this job.
"Local government is a really good family and I'm sure that Andrew Constance will be well supported by general managers across the region.
"He's very well known and regarded, so I reckon there'll be a lot of people in local government to give him the advice he needs.
"It is sometimes regarded as a step down from politics, but he's going to enjoy it so much because he has so much to bring.
"People have just got to give him a chance."
Blackadder coordinated the shortlisting of 10 candidates and said resumes received were impressive.
"We first offered the job to an excellent candidate from local government and that person knocked it back."
"He's a lovely man but I won't reveal his reasonings - there were many."
Blackadder said he welcomed the OLG investigation because it will put to rest a lot of "innuendo" and give him the chance to "articulate very clearly the steps we took took to arrive at this final decision".
"OLG issued guidelines in 2022 on how these recruitments should be conducted and we've abided by the guidelines, we've gone through the process ...a most comprehensive process," Blackadder said.
"We evaluated all the candidates equally, we did a merit assessment to have a look at their background, their personality, and comprehensive referee checking.
"To be fair, this a decision of the council – all I do is facilitate."
"In the final analysis, the council has a statutory obligation under the Local Government Act - the whole council has to appoint the CEO."
At least half the councillors were not sold on Constance's suitability.
Cr Bob Proudfoot was also on the CEO selection committee, along with Cr Peter Wilkins, and remains firm that appointing Andrew Constance was too risky for a council already financially compromised and teetering on the edge of administration.
Proudfoot was not convinced that Constance's lack of qualifications, education or experience indicated that he was prepared for a career change to local government.
"This is nothing personal about Andrew Constance in any way, but he hasn't really done much work in the last 4 or 5 years, certainly nothing in local government other than being on the fringe talking to people," Proudfoot said
"Being a mathematician, I thought you have to balance the element of risk - what is the risk to the Shoalhaven of taking on a person such as that even though he's well-credentialed politically?
"I really cannot accept that it was a fantastic choice.
"It's a merit based selection process and the Mayor or the consultant can't get any greater say than anyone else."
But Cr Luciano Casmiri differed on exactly that, asserting in his emailed statement to Spark that supporting the Mayor's choice was crucial to the Council working like a business to increase development across the Shoalhaven "because, at the end of the day, in our case, the CEO reports to the mayor."
"I joint the Shoalhaven Independents Group (SIG) with the aim to be elected as a councillor and work with all councillors to make some contribution in getting developments progressing for the very needed homes in our Shoalhaven as a matter of urgency.
I supported the mayor recommendation for the appointment of Andrew Constance as the SCC CEO because in my opinion unlike other CEOs or council directors that have been indoctrinated with the “Council Culture” Andrew Constance will look at the SCC current situation from a different viewpoint applying his leadership, negotiations and communications skills working in concert with the elected mayor by the people of Shoalhaven.
Furthermore, In my long life in corporate and private business:
- I have applied for jobs as a CEO
- I have worked as a CEO
- I was there when the QBE General manager went into stress leave and did not come back
- I was there when the CEO of the Commonwealth Bank Health Society (CBHS) was locked out of the building, and I had to disconnect his access to emails and systems
- I was there when the CEO of Westfund in Lithgow, one early morning was visited at home by chair of the board and 1 director and was presented with an envelope with his termination pay.
And every time, every CEO dismissal was because the CEO and the Chair had different opinions or not the same vision for the business.
Therefore, I do have some experience as to how dysfunctional a business can be when the CEO and the chair do not work together for the benefit of the business.
And this is another reason as to why I will always support and vote for the best person in the final short list that the chair or mayor wants to appoint as the CEO because, at the end of the day in our case the CEO reports to the mayor.
But Cr Proudfoot called this focus on supporting the Mayor's choice a "furphy".
"It was a committee decision, it was a panel decision, to be ratified by the full council, and it needs to be open, honest and transparent," Proudfoot said.
"I go back to the words my old Dad used to say, that it's better to fail with honour than to succeed by fraud.
"The whole process was a fraud. It really was a failure. There were so many flaws in the process and I believe the OLG and the Minister will uncover that.
"It will be a great lesson for our council, but also a great lesson for every council in the state.
"Never wrestle with a pig because you get dirty and, besides, the pig likes it. This process was a pig and we had to wrestle with it."
"I don't believe the people within this were sinister. But in the end what happened wasn't correct and we need to straighten that out and rectify that and make sure it never happens again."
Cr Proudfoot said it was incorrect to see a Council CEO as subordinate to the Mayor and that some councillors may not understand that the relationship between Mayor and CEO is not about personal comfort or political agreement.
"What Cr Casmiri is saying; it's as though you're running an under 12s rugby league team and you've got to pick a popular guy to captain the side and carry out the coach's instructions," Proudfoot said
"Well this is bigger than a rugby league match - we're talking about an entire city carrying the most amount of debt of any council in the state of NSW and that council allowed it to get this way by poor CEO and councillor decisions.
"That goes back quite some years. It's just not right to blame one Council or one Mayor or one - well you could blame one CEO, I suppose.
"But we have to untangle that mess."
Proudfoot said that while a Mayor plays the supervisory role of the CEO, most issues are operational and the responsibility of the CEO is to ensure the directors are abiding by the Act to deliver services to the people.
"You have to be on top of your game and if you don't know all the intricacies - and there are thousands of them - and you are starting from scratch, then it's a big risk.
"We have a plan but we don't always stick to our plan, so you need an administrative leader that knows that plan and reminds the councillors and the Mayor of their responsibility and also reminds them of the pitfalls if you don't follow the plan.
"We have decaying infrastructure and, let's face it, safety is the number one concern and our roads go hand in glove with safety so they're our number two concern – and we can't even fix the roads."
Cr Proudfoot said the current CEO process had not moved Council away from the threat of administration and, if that happened, it would be costly for ratepayers.
He said he is preparing a motion for the next ordinary council meeting addressing this issue and ensuring that councillors thoroughly support the investigation by providing all information available.
" I know Cr Wilkins has taken copious notes on this.... he's a very forthright sort of person.
"I will particularly be providing information on the role of the Captain (HMAS Albatross Captain Paul Hannigan) and the treatment of the Captain which I was unhappy with."
Cr Casmiri said he believed councillors voted against Mayor White's choice of Andrew Constance for political and vindictive reasons because "for some councillors was more important than having a progressive united council for the benefit of all in our Shoalhaven."
The expectation that we should blindly and gleefully fall into line under one leader's hidden mission, is the heart of this matter and reflected in comments from a few vocal SIG members directed at Spark and Cr Proudfoot under his October 1 interview (YouTube). For example:
"You have betrayed Patricia, who clearly respected and trusted you, and who wanted to collaborate to make Shoalhaven Council a success again."
or
"The only people who will and are railing against this appointment are very bitter people with an axe to grind."
and
"You and other social media commentators are a disgrace and do NOTHING to assist in the community working together. Bob Proudfoot should be totally ashamed of himself stabbing Patricia White in the back with such untruths."
This talk of betrayal and backstabbing is the language not of a democracy but of autocracy - and a fragile one at that.
"Let's work together." should not be code for "Agree with me or incur my wrath."
Our elected representatives - and our highly-paid public servants - are not victims and it is not the community's job to lift up the Mayor and kick goals for a top-level executive.
It's the other way around.
