Cr Sarah Ndiaye, BSC Deputy Mayor
Tom Tabart, cantankerous curmudgeon. Was glad to see the back of him. Offered him my ear, but he always preferred public ridicule or a good old ‘letter to the editor’. Offered no support, zero encouragement, and I’d say most people who disengaged and stopped coming to Greens meetings around that time did so because of him and another bad tempered, surly male who couldn’t help but pontificate their own misery. As for signing off as ‘Victorian Greens’, I’m guessing they’d have a thing or two to say about that.
Tom references the 2016 preselection for Byron Shire Council (BSC) elections. He was constantly patronising and condescending. He ran, came fourth, and threw a tantrum because he didn’t like the way the counting was done. I polled fifth, having only recently joined the Greens, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t an activist. I’ve been involved in positive change in the environment, Aboriginal rights, gay rights and other social justice issues for as long as I can remember. I’d had a local radio show for a decade covering these sorts of issues. Tom couldn’t possibly have known anything about me or any other councillors environmental credentials. So polluted by his venomous hatred of Simon, he never had a conversation with any of us.
When Tom finished fourth and three other candidates said they didn’t want to run on a ticket with him, and he didn’t like the way it was counted, he pulled out. I became fourth on the ticket – a spot that was said to be unwinnable. Once running, I had to stop working at the ABC – and I can’t work there again. As a single mum it was a huge gamble.
I got the highest number of first preference votes in the councillor ballot and we got enough votes for a fifth candidate – our preferences getting Cate Coorey elected. Like a bitter child who didn’t get his way Tom started the three blind mice narrative, publishing letters saying I couldn’t think for myself, that I just did what ‘Simon said’ and that I’d been rejected by the Labor Party. All lies.
Simon never once told me how I should vote. I’ve never shied away from robust debate, and I call staff to account when appropriate – but by and large, I realise we are all in this together and working together is the best way to get things done.
Re Fast Buck$, Tom, ever think HIS behaviour was escalating because there’s an election coming? I wasn’t removed by police on multiple occasions. I wasn’t swearing at people in the gallery or behaving like he was. In John Anderson’s recent ad, aside from grossly inaccurate information, some commentary, which I consider to be defamatory, and breaching the APVO by contacting me via the media, what’s he actually advertising? Hate for Sarah? Misogyny at its finest? No wonder Tom’s chiming in, no surprises there – but I’m over the word count – I’ll address the rest next week.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
