CWA clash over ‘cult’ accusation

Andrea Pulford, a 40-year member of the CWA, wrote emails and Facebook posts against the sale and accused the organisation of “cult-like behaviour”.

Ms Pulford was hauled in front of a special meeting in Dubbo on August 22, facing expulsion from the CWA for bringing the organisation into disrepute.

Another CWA member, who did not wish to be identified, said the expulsion was put to the vote and Ms Pulford was saved by a single vote.

The member said she wanted to remain anonymous for fear of a “reprisal” similar to that faced by Ms Pulford.

“They are trying to stop us talking to the media... but there are a lot of very unhappy people,” the member said.

“The CWA is supposed to be a platform for women to have a voice...(but) a group ... tried to expel her (Ms Pulford).

“People were horrified they wanted to expel her after 40 years of service.”

The member said there was still opposition to the proposed sale of the Potts Point building, and members being gagged from speaking out was only adding to the ill-feeling.

But CWA president Tanya Cameron said the disciplinary action taken against Ms Pulford was not about her voicing opposition to the sale, but the way she went about it.

“Suggestions (the Dubbo meeting was)?held in relation to opposition to the sale of the property at Potts Point are incorrect. It is a disciplinary issue regarding a breach of our code of conduct,” Ms Cameron said.

“Our organisation has a long and proud history of intelligent and respectful debate at every annual general meeting on issues of importance to our members.”

Ms Cameron said there was no stifling of debate, but it was important for members to conduct the debate “within the appropriate forums”.

The majority of CWA members wanted the Potts Point building to be sold, and the organisation had to move forward in accordance with that majority, she said.

“The vote was taken in May (at the CWA State conference)...it was passed by 73 per cent of the members.

“It’s a case now of getting on with business as usual, if we can.”

Ms Cameron would not go into specifics of the special meeting regarding Ms Pulford in Dubbo, to which a reporter from The Land was not permitted entry.

“This matter is between the member concerned and the delegates present and it is not appropriate for us to discuss this issue any further in public,” she said.

The Potts Point building houses the organisation’s head office and provides accommodation and meeting facilities for CWA of NSW members, and is popular for providing a place to stay in Sydney close to major hospitals, schools and the centre of the city.

The CWA State executive made the recommendation to its members to sell the building as it was told it needed repairs at a cost of close to $1.7 million, with long-term expenditure to improve the facility to a “medium standard” to cost close to $3m.

If the building was sold, the CWA was advised it could receive up to $12.5m.

This land value of the site would allow the CWA to purchase a more modern office facility with lower maintenance costs and additional floors available to lease, which would provide an income stream to support the organisation’s activities.

Under this plan, accommodation for members would be outsourced to an established accommodation provider.