The unfortunate tale of the NSW Liberals' nominations bungle – when forms were not submitted on time, leaving about 150 members unable to stand in last year’s council elections – has had a happy ending for the party in Ward 1 of Wollongong.
Austinmer dad Ryan Morris – who had recently retired from the Australian Defence Force after serving primarily in the Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment – ran as an independent and on October 2 was elected as one of four councillors for Ward 1.
Then, about four months ago, Cr Morris joined the Liberal Party.
“I just realised running as an independent was a difficult circumstance and to get somewhere in politics – if you choose to go that way – you need a party or some heavy backing behind you as a general rule,” he said.
“And the Liberal Party is the one that's closest to my values. So I decided to join the Liberal Party … either the end of last year or beginning of this year.”
Cr Morris said he’s not making decisions according to a party line. “I’ve had zero input from the Liberal Party, directing me whatsoever on how I make decisions. I make decisions based on the people that I talk to in the community – they talk to me about what their problems are and I try to make a value judgment based on that.”
He was inspired to run for council after seeing flood damage in his community and last year listed remediating the stormwater and flood management plan as one of his top priorities.
Ward 1 is home to more than 72,000 people and covers about 485 sq km of the northern and north-western parts of the Wollongong local government area. Cr Morris is now its sole Liberal representative, working alongside three other Ward 1 councillors: Richard Martin (Labor), Dan Hayes (Labor) and Jess Whittaker (Greens).
Cr Morris said his council role remains as an Independent as he has not made a formal change to be recognised as a Liberal Party councillor. “I think it's just an on-the-floor requirement, if I choose to change it."
Members of some grassroots community groups, including the Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group (NIRAG), which also acts as Neighbourhood Forum 3 for residents of Woonona, Bulli, Thirroul and Austinmer), learned of Cr Morris's news this week.
Like many local parents, the Austinmer father also shoulders family commitments – including as an Ethics teacher and surf club volunteer – and finds it difficult to attend evening events, although he did go to Wollongong's northernmost community meeting, Neighbourhood Forum 1 in Otford, last year.
“I've been to a couple of the Neighbourhood Forum 5s. I do try to speak to the forums and NIRAG and Thirroul Village community as well as through emails. I don't get to attend as many of the forums that I would like to go to because my wife works really hard and long hours, and I have to look after the kids. So, unfortunately, they all have their meetings usually on an evening and I'm looking after the kids at that stage.”
On polling day in September 2024, local Liberals whose political dreams had been dashed – including would-be Wollongong mayoral candidate John Dorahy – helped hand out flyers for the Independent candidate. Cr Morris is not a member of any of the local ‘no-offshore wind’ groups, but also had their support during his campaign. “I still don't think that the wind farms are a good idea economically for Australia,” he said.
Cr Morris said he has not spoken much to NSW HQ, which is still dealing with the 2024 council elections fall-out. Two state members recently launched a class action after the party's paperwork blunder crushed the hopes of several local politicians, including Helensburgh councillor Cameron Walters, who told the Flame at the time that the party's failure was a setback for democracy: “It’s going to make people, once again, not trust the system."
Ultimately, state party members are always happy to hear that Cr Morris is representing Liberal voters in the Gong. “When I do speak to people in the Liberal Party hierarchy, they are like, ‘Oh, that's fantastic, good to know’.
“I do try to do my best for Wollongong at the end of the day.”