"Our entire field footprint proudly uses 100% recycled corflutes from our recent Gilmore campaign—because people are sick of the plastic waste and the arms race in signage. We’ve progressively restickered signs with the correct NSW authorisation and printer particulars, and are compliant. NSW Electoral Commission staff have been brilliantly constructive and helpful as we’ve worked through dense rules in this short, unexpected by-election period.
"Let’s be honest: these complaints are political tactics by major parties worried about the rise of community independents. Voters can see through petty point-scoring designed to waste precious volunteer time and entrench their advantage. We’re staying focused on what matters in Kiama—cost of living, woeful trains, housing, struggling businesses, and integrity.
“We’ve recycled 100% of our corflutes to cut plastic waste, and we restickered them with the correct details to meet the NSWEC rules. The NSWEC has been helpful, and our reporting will be by the book. Voters want solutions on cost of living and local services, not petty tactics to protect the two-party duopoly.”
— Kate Dezarnaulds, Independent for Kiama
Questions recently received from a reporter:
1) Is Ms Dezarnaulds aware that reusing campaigning material obtained with federal funding for a state by-election may breach the NSW Electoral Act?
Yes—we’re across our obligations. Reusing physical signs is not prohibited; what matters is that material used in this state by-election carries the correct NSW authorisation and printer details and is properly reported. All signs in the field now meet NSW requirements, following restickering of our recycled corflutes.
2) Is Ms Dezarnaulds aware that her campaign corflutes do not include the name of the printer and the address at which it was printed?
Sign displayed now include the required particulars—the authoriser’s name and address and the printer’s name and street address. Where any legacy federal signage initially lacked visible particulars, we corrected it before display in consultation with NSWEC guidance.
3) Why are some materials authorised on behalf of Independent for South Coast Pty Ltd, which is not registered as a third-party campaigner for the Kiama by-election?
A subset of recycled signs initially carried a legacy federal authorisation line referencing Independent for South Coast Pty Ltd. We have restickered those signs with the correct NSW authorisation. Independent for South Coast Pty Ltd is registered as a third party campaigner with the NSW Electoral Commission.
4) Has Ms Dezarnaulds used funding/donations she received for the federal election to contest the Kiama state by-election?
The Kiama campaign is separately managed and reported. Where we have upcycled physical materials, any attributable cost or in-kind value is treated and disclosed in line with NSWEC rules.
5) If so, is Ms Dezarnaulds aware that this funding may be subject to donation caps on the state level?
We are fully aware of NSW donation caps and disclosure obligations and are complying with them. Caps apply in NSW, and we report accordingly.
6) Why reuse Gilmore material when this risks breaching multiple parts of the Electoral Act?
Reusing is a deliberate environmental and integrity choice: it cuts plastic waste and campaign costs. We’ve ensured our recycled corflute is NSW-compliant with correct authorisations and printer particulars before display. We reject the premise that recycling “risks breaching” the Act—compliance is the standard we meet, not an optional extra.
Authorised by Kate Dezarnaulds, 3/68 Albert St, Berry NSW 2535