DISMISSED King Island councillor Sarina Laidler has been overwhelmed with support and sympathy after her shock removal.
Ms Laidler lost her seat on the King Island Council after failing to attend three consecutive ordinary council meetings, despite her lodging an apology for June, July and August and attending workshops and other councillor meetings.
Dismayed supporters have urged Ms Laidler to stand for council again.
IN A move described as “heartless” and “lacking compassion” King Island Council has followed the letter of the law in removing councillor Sarina Laidler from her position.
It was a tumultuous week for the councillor, being aware that her husband was in his final hours and at the same time being informed that she no longer held her council seat.
“I was just speechless because at the time, I was going through a challenging time with my husband,” she said.
Ms Laidler was philosophical about the unusual circumstances and was concerned that the situation did not occur again.
She plans to re-contest her seat in the by-election that must be held.
Ms Laidler was removed after failing to attend three consecutive ordinary council meetings, despite lodging an apology for June, July and August and attending workshops and other councillor meetings.
A request for leave of absence in respect of one or more council meetings was not advised or lodged.
The council said their hand was forced by the Local Government Act Schedule 5 – if an elected councillor misses three consecutive meetings without a request for leave of absence and council approval, a councillor is dismissed and the seat is declared vacant, despite there being compassionate grounds.
The determination and advice given by the Acting General Manager Brian Barrett to the council and Mayor Marcus Blackie were drawn from the due diligence done in his first fortnight in the role.
Ms Laidler lodged apologies on each occasion when her husband Kevin’s unplanned emergency medical treatments coincided with a council meeting.
The missed meetings were when she was required to be with him in Tasmania or when air ambulanced back to King Island and King Island District Hospital was unable to admit him.
Ms Laidler interpreted that a request for leave of absence was when an absence was premeditated or planned.
Ms Laidler was not advised that she was approaching her third missed meeting.
“I have been told that I should have known. But unfortunately, I truly wasn’t aware,” she said.
“I consider a leave of absence, something that you put in, in advance, when you’re aware that something’s going to occur.
“The three meetings that I missed were very unfortunate circumstances,” she told King Island Radio.
“Despite giving in apologies, I didn’t do what was required under the regulations, which is to put in a leave of absence.”
A leave of absence can be put in by any councillor or the mayor on behalf of the individual.
“The Tasmanian Act is fairly rigid,” she said.
“Once you miss three consecutive council meetings without putting in a formal written leave of absence and obtaining council approval, you are no longer considered a councillor,” Ms Laidler said.
“One of the things that I have discussed with the mayor and Mr Barrett this week is ways of ensuring that it doesn’t happen again.
“Also the Tasmanian regulations need to be looked at because they are very straightforward in that regard, whereas other states have other compassionate grounds or apologies are acceptable in another way.
Mr Blackie said the council expressed deepest condolences to Ms Laidler for the loss of her husband.
“It is with her permission that we make the following clarifying statements this week.
“Owing to Cr Sarina Laidler’s long selfless period of caring for her late husband she unfortunately missed too many council meetings, which under the Act requires her seat to now be vacated.”
“The situation and timing are indeed very unfortunate and I stress that we the council have in no way been heartless about this,” Mr Blackie said.
“Ms Laidler has always had the full support, backing and compassion of her council team.
“However, the Act is clear on what we are required to do which we must now comply with. We will therefore expect a by-election in the near future to re-elect this seat.
“At this stage Cr Laidler has expressed her desire to run again and reclaim her seat.
“We imagine that the circumstances and extraordinary courage shown by Cr Laidler will make her the deserving and sentimental favourite to retain the seat and we would certainly welcome her back with open arms for the remainder of this tenure,” Mr Blackie said.