Cr Kelly James. File image: Moree Online News.
Moree Plains Shire Council has formally censured Councillor Kelly James for a third time and resolved to refer the matter to the NSW Office of Local Government.
The decision, made at Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, followed findings by an independent investigator about Cr James’s conduct during and after three council meetings held between December 2025 and February 2026.
Council said the referral was for further action under the misconduct provisions of the Local Government Act 1993.
Cr James was censured under clause 7.37(c) of the Procedures for the Administration of the Code of Conduct and section 440G of the Act.
According to Council’s published resolution, the independent investigator found four breaches of Council’s Code of Conduct.
The first two findings related to conduct likely to bring Council or other council officials into disrepute, and conduct contrary to statutory requirements or Council’s administrative requirements or policies.
The provisions, as written in the resolution, were:
3.1(a) — “conducting herself in a manner that is likely to bring the Council or other council officials into disrepute”; and
3.1(b) — “conduct contrary to statutory requirements or the council’s administrative requirements or policies”.
The remaining findings concerned the conduct of council meetings.
They were:
3.21 — “conduct that disrupts council or committee meetings or would otherwise be inconsistent with the orderly conduct of meetings”; and
3.22 — “acts of disorder or other conduct at council meetings that are intended to prevent the proper or effective functioning of the council”.
The findings covered Cr James’s conduct during and after the Ordinary Council Meeting on December 18, 2025, the Extraordinary Council Meeting on February 5, 2026, and the Ordinary Council Meeting on February 19, 2026.
Council’s resolution also said the investigator found the conduct was “likely to constitute” breaches of sections 232(1)(f) and 660 of the Local Government Act.
Section 232(1)(f) states that part of a councillor’s role is “to uphold and represent accurately the policies and decisions of the governing body”.
Section 660 deals with obstruction and refers to a person who “wilfully obstructs” a listed person or body, including a council, councillor or council employee, “in the exercise of any function under this Act or any other Act”.
Council’s resolution does not say Cr James was charged with or convicted of an offence. It records the investigator’s finding that her conduct was likely to constitute breaches of the two sections.
Council also reaffirmed its commitment to changes to its Code of Meeting Practice set out in an earlier resolution.
The Acting General Manager was given authority to issue a statement advising the community of the censure.
The resolution noted Cr James had been censured for similar misconduct on July 18, 2024, and May 21, 2026.
The July 16, 2026 decision is the third time Council has formally censured Cr James.
