Clarence Valley Council Mayor Ian Tiley says he will no longer discuss council meetings in radio interviews after admitting he disclosed confidential information in two separate interviews in December.

Addressing the February Clarence Valley Council meeting, Cr Tiley said a code of conduct complaint had been made about disclosures he made about passenger services for Grafton Regional Airport.

This is not the first time that Cr Tiley has been accused of breaching confidentiality.

About a year ago, Cr Tiley was accused of breaching confidentiality by revealing contents of an email between a councillor and then acting general manager Laura Black, by both Cr’s Karen Toms and Debrah Novak, for which he apologised.

At the February council meeting, Cr Tiley made another public apology.

“After the December 13 ordinary council meeting, I disclosed confidential information in a Loving Life radio interview on December 14, 2022, and similar information in a 2TLC radio interview on December 16, 2022,” he said.

“Since becoming Mayor I have provided unprecedented access to the local radio stations.

“Whilst I was under pressure at each of these radio interviews and believed at the time my disclosures to be in the public interest, I acknowledge the disclosure of confidential information was wrong.

“I regret my actions and make this voluntary public apology.

“I will henceforth leave it to other councillors to participate in future after council meetings in local radio interviews.”

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 15 March 2023.