As the newspaper said - and the gallery that was in attendance saw - I was shut down.

On October 4 last year at a council meeting it is believed by Orange City Council Administration and Governance Manager Ms Catlin that I questioned her professionalism about receiving and distributing emails.

I have since been correctly quoted as saying: "If there has been a misunderstanding, misinterpretation or poorly chosen words by myself I sincerely and unreservedly apologise. I have always found Ms Catlin professional, polite and prompt".

I have no idea why the mayor chose to shut me down, as I was at least expecting the same leeway that was afforded to Councillor Russell Turner for his apology over a non-pecuniary interest.

To quote MLC Jeremy Buckingham at the committee looking at the Councillor Misconduct and Poor Performance Bill in 2015: “when I was elected to parliament people told me that this place was a real bear pit, but this is a walk in the park compared to being on Orange City Council.

Orange council is a microcosm of all that is dysfunctional and chaotic in government. They used the code of conduct to shut down debate and to shut people up."

I am subject to four code of conducts lodged by council staff concerning matters that occurred over eight months ago.