We Don’t Know How Much Cessnock Council Paid—But We Do Know Federation Council Spent $125,000

When Federation Council engaged Professor Joseph Drew, it cost $125,000. At Cessnock Council, unelected bureaucrats are doing something similar—but the council is yet to tell the community how much they’ve spent.

I certainly wasn’t asked if I wanted $125,000 of my rates spent on a report that will predictably say what council wants: a special rate increase. Meanwhile, the former mayor was proudly reporting surpluses and financial stability, and the newly elected Quintin King asked he was told “everything is fine, nothing to see here.”

Last election, Cessnock voters demanded change, transparency, and accountability. So far, we’ve seen more of the same: unelected bureaucrats running the show, protecting overpaid positions, and making decisions behind closed doors.

Ratepayers deserve answers. Mayor Watton, how much has been paid to Professor Drew? And what happened to Jay Suvaal’s surplus?

It’s time to call out the GM and these unelected officials. Our money, our vote, our council—yet the people are being ignored while the bureaucrats get to call the shots.