Singleton election saga unlikely to be settled before Federal vote

BY DAKOTA TAIT

It's unlikely Singleton will be headed back to the polls for a second council election, before the country votes on their Federal members. 

Singleton, Kempsey, and Shellharbour Councils were back in the Supreme Court this week, after the Electoral Commission raised concern, a glitch in the online voting system means the December elections should be overturned.

The Commission says a number of voters were locked out when the iVote program crashed, identifying the three councils as the only ones in which the number would make a difference to the results.

But councillors say the issue wasn't their fault, and another election would be too expensive, both for their campaigns and for taxpayers. 

A mathematical scientist on behalf of a Kempsey councillor also told the court, the data was unfairly interpreted and actually shows another 36 councils should also be in doubt.

Justice Robert Beech-Jones said he would continue to consider the case, but no decision would be made before the Federal election.

Lake Macquarie Photo Scandal

BY ALEX MURRAY

Tonight, an important part of the agenda for the Lake Macquarie City Council meeting is for the calls of a permanent removal of two photographs of convicted child sex offenders hanging in the administration building as former council members.

Milton Orkopoulos of 2008 and Douglas Carley in 2009 were both convicted of criminal offences, causing a community outcry to have them permanently taken down.

A notice of motion tonight lead by Liberal councillor, Kevin Baker tonight is aiming to completely discard any photographs, plaques or honourable memorabilia of existing and future offenders in other buildings around the city.

Councillor Baker has expressed the photographs have been temporarily taken down but there needs to be a sense of permanency and consistency with cases such as these in the future.

"This issue with the photographs could have resolved plain and simply many years ago when these two men were convicted."

"Tonight I will be lifting the confidentiality of the confidential meeting held in 2016, I believed it was unlawful we closed that meeting in November and as such, I am moving a recession motion."

"I'm seeking to move the motion to make certain they are taken down permanently, quite simply we should not be honouring criminals in any shape or form and I am attempting to correct that tonight."