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Published: Wednesday, 22 April 2026 16:06
In the March issue we reported on our application for an Anti-Bullying Order against Snowy Monaro Councillor Andrew Thaler, in the new Anti-Bullying jurisdiction of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. We provided our application, a response from the Council and a response from suspended Councillor Thaler.
Suspended Councillor Thaler’s response challenged the jurisdiction, relying upon not being a worker under the WHS Act, not carrying out work “FOR” a person conducting a business or undertaking and that the Respondent was “not aware of any other cases of this kind”.
He railed about the absence of jurisdiction and when our application came on before Commissioner Muir on 9 March, the Commission listed the jurisdictional argument on 8 April, with the Commissioner committed to making a decision that day. The Respondent was ordered to file any evidence and an outline of submissions by 23 March and the applicant the applicant to reply by 30 March.
Councillor Thaler failed to comply with the Commissioner’s order requiring evidence and submissions to be lodged on 23 March. The following day, his lawyers advised us “Mr Thaler now seeks to file an amended response which resiles from the position”. Despite his vociferous and multiple assertions there was no jurisdiction, and without explanation, he had changed his mind. He chickened out.
Thaler Also Chickens Out.
On 26 March, when the jurisdictional argument would have taken place, orders were made requiring depa to file and serve evidence and an outline of submissions by 4pm on 30 March, Thaler to file and serve evidence and an outline of submissions by 4pm on 20 April, and depa to file and serve any evidence and or submissions in reply, by 4 PM on 28 April.
The matter was listed to be heard on 18 and 19 May in the IRC in Parramatta.
depa complied with the order and filed witness statements from the depa Secretary, and Snowy Monaro GM, Noreen Vu, and evidence from CCTV footage, transcripts and video of social media and a summary of submissions, but at 3:44pm a lawyer acting for Cr Thaler advised the parties:
“Our client has been delayed in preparing his evidence in these proceedings.
Given this, we anticipate being in a position to file and serve our evidence and submissions by 4 PM on 28 April 2026.”
No explanation of how the client had been delayed, nor why they needed more than a week longer than the timeframe ordered, nothing.
What else could we do but respond:
“Good afternoon, you want more than a week?
Where is your client, in jail?
We haven’t had a response, but earlier that day 2GB’s Ben Fordham on his breakfast program made an announcement that reminds us of the old saying attributed to Chaucer in 1390, that many a truth is spoken in jest.
"EXCLUSIVE - Cooma pest Andrew Thaler charged by police"
and over three minutes provided another fascinating insight into the behaviour of the suspended Councillor, that you need to hear for yourself.
Again, this will continue to be a very interesting story for the May depaNews.
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Published: Wednesday, 22 April 2026 16:06
There has been more conciliation in this award than living memory, six days or parts of days to resolve sticking points on how to deal with a handful of issues including AI and a novel proposal about leave.
There is now general in-principal agreement between us except on salaries which will be determined at the next meeting of the LGNSW Board on 24 April.
Historically, formal offer go to the unions that afternoon or, given that it’s a Friday, the following week, the Committee of Management would review it with recommendations from me, and adopt it “in principle, pending circulating the offer to members for feedback”.
And we would go through a process of consultation with members, responding to questions and providing explanations where necessary, and recommending that they support the Committee’s in principle agreement and accept the offer. It we’ll do that this year as well.
