Mr Straney decided not to renew his contract and instead return to his radio career. 

Mrs Sudmalis would not be drawn on his departure or the reasons for it.

“I don’t discuss my staffing or my relationships with staff. It’s nobody’s business what goes on here [her electorate office],” she said.

Before joining Mrs Sudmalis’s staff, Mr Straney worked at Wave FM and before that as breakfast announcer at 2ST in Nowra. He is understood to be in discussions with a number of radio stations.

“The political game is not for me,” Mr Straney said.

“I’m better suited to talking about the community rather than trying to help someone else fix it.”