Mayor Ray Smith has acknowledged his full support for Clarence Valley Council General Manager (GM) Laura Black, following a speech in the NSW upper house by Green’s Local Government spokesperson, Dr Amanda Cohn.

Following the October 23 speech and subsequent fallout reported in local media, Cr Smith called an extraordinary meeting on November 3, at 11am, in the Grafton Chambers to address Dr Cohn’s speech.

“On 23 October 2025 Dr. Amanda Cohn MLC, member of the NSW Greens Party, made certain statements in the NSW Parliament that contained unsubstantiated allegations of council misconduct and failed to authenticate any of the information that she had received,” Council business papers stated.

“On 29 October 2025, in a telephone interview on FM103.1, Dr. Cohn publicly stated that she had been in conversation with Council’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Greg Clancy.

“I find this totally irresponsible by the Deputy Mayor to attempt to undermine the very council to which he has been elected and in doing so to have total disrespect for the democratic process of local government.”

Before the meeting started, NBN Television requested to film proceedings, but their request was denied by Council in a 5 -4 vote.

Cr Smith then called for one minute’s silence to honour the tragic loss of a former Grafton police officer, who was killed in an alleged hit and run last week at Ulmarra.

Ms Black then declared a conflict of interest concerning the Mayoral Minute, as it discussed her performance as GM and statements made by Dr Cohn, and stated she would be leaving the chambers.

A member of the public who was in the public gallery began yelling, and making accusations against the GM.

As a result, the meeting was adjourned after a motion to expel the person from the meeting was carried 6 -3, with Cr’s Cairns, Clancy, and Yager voting against.

When the meeting reconvened, the person ignored the motion and remained in the public gallery.

Cr Greg Clancy stated the meeting was unconstitutional, as the notice of the meeting hadn’t been signed by two Councillors.

Mayor Smith said there was nothing in the Code of Meeting Practice preventing the Mayor from calling an extraordinary meeting.

“If you don’t wish to remain, you can go,” Mayor Smith said to Deputy Mayor Clancy.

Cr Lynne Cairns then asked to make a comment and stated the meeting was ‘ridiculous in her opinion.”

“There is a lack of transparency and accountability in this Council,” she said.

“What are the unsubstantiated allegations that you are alluding to?”

Cr Clancy said under Civil Law the meeting is unconstitutional.

When Cr Peter Johnstone questioned the Deputy Mayor, asking if he would prefer the meeting to be reconvened in three days’ time, Deputy Mayor Clancy said he “would prefer for Council to operate within the rules.

When a second person made comments from the public gallery, Cr Johnstone moved a motion that was seconded by Cr Debrah Novak to expel the person from the meeting.

Mayor Smith then said, “for the record you have been expelled from the meeting,” before Cr Johnstone reminded the Mayor that Councillors had not voted on whether to expel the person.

Cr’s Cairns and Clancy left the chambers and sat with members of the public in the gallery, before Cr Cristie Yager asked Mayor Smith whether it was the role of the governing body to investigate and substantiate any issues, such as those raised in Parliament.

“Do you believe that the matters have been addressed adequately, the ones that she (Dr Cohn) raised from a local governing body perspective?” Cr Yager asked the Mayor.

“Yes, I do,” he replied.

Cr Johnstone then asked questions of Cr’s Cairns and Clancy.

He questioned what Cr Cairns’ involvement was in the statement made by Dr Cohn and asked whether she would provide any communication with Dr Cohn.

He then questioned Cr Clancy about issues including sharing confidential legal advice.

During a passionate and emotionally charged speech, Cr Yager said she was taking her role as a Councillor seriously, revealing she sometimes she felt like she was the only Councillor who was doing so.

She said she was fighting for the honest, balanced, and complete truth and in her position, she is privy to information the public doesn’t have.

“I understand why things have escalated the way that they have,” she said.

“My intentions are good, and my heart is with the community, and I will always fight for truth, and for fairness, and for accountability.

“But this is not the way to achieve it.

“It is the role of the governing body (us) the Councillors, to hold this Council to account.

“It is our role to hire, and, in all honesty, when necessary, to dismiss our General Manager.”

Cr Yager said Council should be focusing on what is best for the region as a whole, adding the community deserves “true leadership.”

Cr Yager then proposed an amendment to Mayor Smiths motion to remove point four That Council publicly acknowledge its full support of the General Manager, Ms. Laura Black.

She proposed replacing that with a statement concerning Councils role to appoint and dismiss the General Manager, under the Local Government Act 1993.

The motion was seconded by Cr Shane Causley and carried unanimously, with Cr’s Cairns and Clancy included in the vote, despite not being seated with the other Councillors.

Cr Johnstone then made a speech and was granted an extension after passing his five-minute time limit, stating the Local Government Act section 223 outlined the responsibilities of Councillors.

He said NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig had stated he has no position to intervene in Local Government.

“Dr Cohn’s speech has been seen to undermine democracy in the Clarence Valley,” Cr Johnstone said.

“Dr Cohn’s speech was riddled with inaccuracies presented as facts.”

Cr Johnstone labelled Dr Cohn’s speech as ‘inaccurate, unjust, biased, and designed to cause harm to a public servant.’

He defended the General Managers actions and performance in her role.

Cr Smith moved the Mayoral Minute that Council:

1. Note with concern the blatant misuse of parliamentary privilege by Dr. Amanda Cohn MLC.
2. Support the Mayor in making his Citizens Right of Reply addressed to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Hon Greg Piper, MP, refuting the claims made in the statement by Dr. Cohn MLC on 23 October 2025 to the NSW Parliament and putting on record the facts about matters raised and good governance record of the Clarence Valley Council.
3. Lodge a complaint with the Parliamentary Ethics Committee about Dr. Cohn’s actions for the following reasons: a. they demonstrate a lack of understanding of the democratic process of local government. b. they demonstrate a lack of knowledge of the role of the Mayor in managing the performance of the General Manager. c. the statements contain incorrect matters presented as fact and do not represent the view of Clarence Valley Council. d. the statements contradict matters currently the subject of legal proceedings, and e. Dr. Cohn made no attempt to contact the Mayor to fact check the matters in her statement.

Plus, the addition of Cr Yagers amendment concerning Councils role to appoint and dismiss the General Manager, under the Local Government Act 1993.

The motion was carried with seven Councillors voting in support and Cr’s Cairns and Clancy not voting.

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 5 November 2025.
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