Andrew Thaler

Cr.
Andrew Thaler
Councillor of the Snowy Monaro Regional Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 September 2024
Personal details
BornAndrew Evan Thaler
1972 or 1973 (age 53–54)
PartyIndependent
Websitesnowymonaro.com.au

Andrew Evan Thaler[pronunciation?] (born 1972 or 1973) is an Australian politician who since 2024 has been a councillor on the Snowy Monaro Regional Council.

Thaler is a perennial candidate, contesting the 2019 New South Wales state election in Monaro, 2022 Monaro state by-election, 2022 federal election in Eden-Monaro, the 2025 federal election in Eden-Monaro and the 2025 Kiama state by-election.

Thaler has been suspended from the council multiple times and has been accused of bullying by the CEO.

Political career

In the 2019 state election, Thaler was an independent candidate for the seat of Monaro.

Thaler was an independent candidate for the 2022 Monaro state by-election and achieved 6% of the primary vote.

Thaler was an independent candidate for the 2022 federal election in the seat of Eden-Monaro. While campaigning in the election, Thaler pleaded guilty to intimidating a woman, but was not convicted, with the judge describing the events as "an absurd situation" and noting that "on all sides, this incident could have been handled better".

In 2024, following the death of Clare Nowland, an elderly person who was tasered by police, Thaler claimed to act as a spokesperson on behalf of Nowland's family but they denied this claim.

In 2024 Thaler was elected to Snowy Monaro Regional Council. He welcomed the resignation of council CEO David Hogan following the election.

In September 2024, Thaler was involved in an altercation with a campaigner for the yes vote in the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum; the case was dismissed by the court.

In April 2025, Thaler allegedly started a brawl between councillors after raising a motion calling for his neighbour's property to be investigated during a meeting of the council.

Thaler was a candidate for the 2025 Kiama state by-election. He cited his suspension from his duties as a councillor at the Snowy Monaro Regional Council as a reason he could campaign in this by-election.

Thaler was suspended three times from council for his behaviour and was banned from multiple businesses within the Cooma and Nimmitabel areas. Upon Thaler's third ban from council, in the normal course of events, he would have been disqualified from holding civic office for five years.

Thaler's behaviour led to an investigation by the Office of Local Government (a state government agency).

Following Thaler's third suspension, he applied for a stay on 31 October 2025 which was subsequently granted by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) on 3 November. This meant that he was not removed from council as planned. The state government appealed NCAT's decision in the New South Wales Court of Appeal.

Thaler was suspended from council again in February 2026. His prior suspension was not recorded as that was stayed by NCAT.

Thaler targeted the council's chief executive officer, Noreen Vu, with insults. Vu initiated proceedings against Thaler at the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales to obtain a stop bullying order; a stop bullying order can order up to $100,000 in damages or allow the court to intervene in situations where an employee is facing cases of bullying. Vu's case is supported by the Development and Environmental Professionals' Association. Thaler also made allegations against local government minister Ron Hoenig, mayor of the council Chris Hanna, the United Services Union and the Office of Local Government.

Personal life

Thaler is a broadcaster and owns a scrapyard.

References

  1. ↑ Le Lievre, Kimberley (23 March 2019). "On NSW election day in Monaro, Queanbeyan voters take to the polls". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 August 2025. Supporters of smaller party candidates, which include the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party's Mick Holton, the Greens' Peter Marshall, the Animal Justice Party's Frankie Seymour and independent candidate Andrew Thaler, were also on hand to pass out how-to-vote material.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ↑ Report on the conduct of the Monaro state by-election (PDF) (Report). NSW Electoral Commission. 12 February 2022. Table 1: Monaro state by-election 12 February 2022 – first preference votes. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  3. 1 2 Baker, Jordan (18 April 2025). "'Dribbling blood': Council meeting involving serial pest ends in brawl". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 August 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ↑ Johnson, Chris (29 April 2025). "Right-wing candidates brawling for votes in Eden-Monaro". Region. Archived from the original on 25 May 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  5. ↑ McKnight, Albert (20 May 2022). "Eden-Monaro candidate Andrew Thaler pleads guilty to intimidating a woman". Region. Archived from the original on 14 June 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  6. ↑ Fenwicke, Claire (23 May 2022). "No conviction following intimidation guilty plea for Eden-Monaro candidate, judge labels case 'absurd'". Region. Archived from the original on 30 April 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  7. ↑ Antrobus, Blake (6 May 2024). "Andrew Thaler: Man who claimed to be spokesman for family of Clare Nowland arrested, charged over alleged assault of NSW cafe owner". NCA NewsWire. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2025 – via news.com.au.
  8. 1 2 3 Baker, Jordan (1 October 2024). "Andrew Thaler has called female council workers fat, dumb and useless. Now he's been elected a councillor". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 August 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ↑ McKnight, Albert (9 October 2024). "Andrew Thaler says he's 'glad' Snowy Monaro CEO resigned after election". AboutRegional. Archived from the original on 28 May 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  10. ↑ McKnight, Albert (5 September 2024). "Yes campaigner's charge dismissed after spitting on ex-federal candidate Andrew Thaler". AboutRegional. Archived from the original on 23 March 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  11. ↑ McSweeney, Jessica (21 August 2025). "Three women are running for NSW Parliament. A male serial pest wants to stop them". Retrieved 22 August 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ↑ White, Jen (21 August 2025). "Suspended Snowy Monaro councillor to stand in Kiama; pledges to rename electorate". regionillawarra.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  13. ↑ Evans, Isla and McDonald, Alasdair (30 July 2025). "Snowy Monaro councillor Andrew Thaler suspended for second time over misconduct". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 July 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  14. ↑ McDonald, Alasdair and Adams, Floss (6 May 2025). "Snowy Mountains councillor Andrew Thaler suspended for alleged misconduct". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 July 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  15. 1 2 Evans, Isla (30 October 2025). "Snowy Monaro councillor Andrew Thaler disqualified after third misconduct suspension". ABC South East NSW. ABC News. Archived from the original on 23 November 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  16. ↑ Adams, Floss and McDonald, Alasdair (20 March 2025). "NSW government probes Snowy Monaro councillor after complaints". ABC News. Archived from the original on 26 July 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  17. ↑ McKnight, Albert (1 November 2025). "UPDATED: Andrew Thaler halts third suspension from Snowy Monaro Council". Archived from the original on 4 November 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2026 – via Region Canberra.
  18. 1 2 Hemmings, Toby (2 June 2026). "Andrew Thaler defends conduct towards Snowy Monaro Regional Council CEO in bullying claim". ABC South East NSW. ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 June 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  19. ↑ McKnight, Albert (7 March 2026). "Maverick Snowy Mountains councillor Andrew Thaler says 'it's a long way from over'". Region. Region Group. Archived from the original on 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  20. ↑ Shields, Bevan (2 June 2026). "'Idiot', 'monster', 'witch': Serial pest Andrew Thaler's latest day in court did not go well". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 June 2026.