Kiama Mayor responds to festival cancellation
Strathbogie to host online social media session
Albury CEO on unplanned leave; shock financial deficit
Frankston mayoral election completes the list for 2025/26
Threatening behaviour closes Council facility
Townsville Deputy Mayor steps down; new election due Friday
Reprieve for flannelette shirts: Griffith
Stonnington makes Menorah decision after deferral
NSW: The organisers of Kiama’s Jazz & Blues Festival have announced the event will not proceed in 2026, a decision Kiama Council Mayor Cameron McDonald described as disappointing for the community after nearly 40 years of the festival’s cultural and economic contribution.
Mayor McDonald said the festival has been able to successfully operate under existing approvals for many years, and that the Council had recently approved a $7,000 grant for the 2026 event.
He said the council is already exploring alternative events or modified programs in partnership with local venues and artists.
VIC: Strathbogie Shire Council is hosting an online session on 17 December 2025 to help families understand new social media age restrictions that prevent under-16s from using certain platforms.
Mayor Cr Scott Jeffery said these changes affect many families and highlighted the importance of community support in keeping young people safe online.
NSW: Albury Council‘s chief executive Frank Zaknich has reportedly taken unplanned leave, weeks after chief financial officer Justin Finlayson resigned after 11 years.
The Border Mail reported that the moves come as councillors express shock over the city’s financial deficit, which is much higher than the 11 million dollars initially reported.
Long-serving councillor Darren Cameron says he’s never experienced such a dramatic shift in financial assumptions during his time in local government.
Deputy chief executive Bridgett Leopold has been appointed temporary CEO, while Ryan Hastie has taken over as chief financial officer.
Mayor Kevin Mack says the matters are highly sensitive HR issues that cannot be discussed at this time.
VIC: Frankston City Council has elected an all female leadership team this week.
Cr Sue Baker, in her second term on the council, takes over the mayoralty from Cr Kris Bolam. She will be supported by Cr Cherie Wanat in the deputy mayor position.
Frankston is the final council to conduct mayoral elections this year. Cr Baker’s election as mayor brings the number of female mayors to 33, representing 42 per cent of the state’s 78 mayors and one chief administrator (Moira).
VIC: On Wednesday, Hepburn Shire Council closed the Creswick Hub after three separate incidents of threatening behaviour and intimidation of front-line staff.
The incidents occurred on different days this week, involving the same staff members, who were said to be very shaken by the incidents.
The Council said while the majority of the community is respectful, behaviour of this kind against Council staff is occurring too often from a select few who cross the line.
It apologised for the inconvenience, ahead of reopening the Hub on Thursday afternoon.
QLD: Townsville City Council will need to appoint a new deputy mayor, after Cr Ann-Maree Greaney officially stood down from the role after this week’s ordinary Council meeting.
Mayor Nick Dametto thanked his fellow councillor for her time in the role over the last 12 months, serving as Acting Mayor of Townsville during what he described as a tumultuous time in local government.
A Special Council Meeting will be held this Friday at 1:30pm, where councillors will vote to appoint a new Deputy Mayor.
NSW: Griffith City councillor Mark Dal Bon can continue wearing flannelette shirts to meetings after a tied vote on eliminating the ‘business casual’ dress code requirement.
Region Riverina reported Mayor Doug Curran used his casting vote to break the four-all deadlock in favour of scrapping the dress code.
The vote was part of a broader debate on a new meeting code mandated by the NSW Government from January 2026.
VIC: Stonnington City Council has unanimously voted to install a Menorah on the balcony at Stonnington City Centre for Hanukkah 2025.
The decision follows an earlier deferral, to allow for more discussion, but seen by some as a failure to provide support in a time of rising anti-semitism.
The Council has also endorsed a Hanukkah Carnival including a ceremonial candle lighting at Malvern Gardens on December 16.