Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Patricia White has welcomed a draft performance improvement order from the Office of Local Government. It follows the appointment of Andrew Constance to the position of council’s CEO. Photo: Shoalhaven City Council.
The controversial appointment of former Liberal Party powerbroker Andrew Constance to the position of Shoalhaven Council CEO in 2025 has drawn fire from the Minister for Local Government.
The minister, Ron Hoenig, has issued a draft performance improvement order (PIO) to the council, urging it to amend its recruitment process and report past and future management recruitment directly to the Office of Local Government.
In the draft order, Mr Hoenig said questions were raised about transparency, impartiality and integrity in light of Mr Constance’s appointment.
Mr Constance was the state member for Bega for 18 years and was a cabinet minister for more than a decade.
He held several ministerial portfolios including Treasurer, Finance, Transport and Roads, Aging and Disability Services, and Industrial Relations.
He was defeated when he tried to make the leap to national politics, unable to take the seat of Gilmore from Labor’s Fiona Phillips in two elections running.
Ms Phillips criticised his appointment as Shoalhaven CEO, saying he had “no local government experience”.
Shoalhaven Mayor Patricia White has been supportive of his appointment.
“I’m excited to see the fresh approach Andrew will bring in his new role and am confident he has the skills and energy needed to guide the organisation through this challenging period,” she said in October 2025.
Cr White was elected as a member of the Shoalhaven Independents Group; however, it is understood she is an active member of the Liberal Party.
The Liberal Party does not endorse local government candidates in the Shoalhaven.
Cr White said in a statement that she welcomed the draft order; however, she disputed the claims in it that there was “internal and external disquiet” around Mr Constance’s recruitment in October 2025 and “evidence to suggest that there may be broader, systemic issues concerning the integrity of council’s recruitment practices”.
“I have been saying for years that we need to make changes, and I strongly endorse and welcome any move by the minister to have improved oversight of the council through the required actions of an improvement order,” Cr White said.
“While the order is only in draft form at this stage, I support any moves by the government to improve the sector and the operation of the council as it relates to staffing recruitment at senior leadership level.
“Evidence must be provided by the government under Section 438 (B) (2) NSW and at this stage no such evidence has been provided,” she said.
“I am very confident in the processes that have been followed and would call for the release of all information as it relates to the proposed order.”
Cr White called an extraordinary meeting of the council to discuss the draft order on Friday 13 February.
The draft improvement order is an early intervention tool to support a council to remedy an existing or emerging issue.
The council is required to provide a response within 14 days. The minister will consider this response and decide whether to issue a formal performance improvement order.
If the council does not comply with the PIO, further intervention options will be considered including suspension of council, the appointment of an interim administrator and a public inquiry.
Original Article published by Zoe Cartwright on Region Illawarra.
