Clarence City Council has supported a motion tabled by Councillor Wendy Kennedy calling for a community awareness campaign, aimed at addressing poor behaviour and conduct towards both councillors and council staff.
Councillor Kennedy said councillors and council staff are being subjected to increased levels of bullying and threatening behaviour through their day-to-day business, which is unacceptable.
“Several of my fellow councillors spoke to this at the last council meeting, and this issue has been exemplified and unrelenting since the AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre debate has come before Council,” Councillor Kennedy said.
“During my time on Council, I have seen this inappropriate behaviour from members of the community intensify each time we have a contentious issue to deal with.
“It needs to be recognised that this is our workplace, both for councillors and for council staff, and bullying, harassing and intimidatory behaviours aren’t appropriate or acceptable in any workplace.
“Regardless of your point of view on a matter, it is never ok to get behind a keyboard and abuse another person.”
“If there is any legacy I’d like to leave from my time on Council, it is that when aspiring Councillors ask me eagerly should they do it – I don’t want to look at them weary and downtrodden and say no, don’t do it to yourself, it’s not worth it.
“I want to encourage a brave new generation that will be treated with respect, with constituents who have a clear understanding that there are boundaries to communicating with elected members, and people are simply trying to do their jobs.”
Clarence City Council Mayor Brendan Blomeley said he whole-heartedly supported Councillor Kennedy’s motion and the behaviour of a small minority of the community needed to stop immediately.
“Some of the things said directly or indirectly about councillors and council staff recently has been horrifying,” said Mayor Blomeley.
“These have ranged from personal attacks, telling staff they are no good at their job, they should be ashamed of themselves, and even sharing the personal details of staff members.
“In no way, shape, or form does anybody have the right to treat another person like that.
“On the whole, our community are always wonderful to work with and we know that this behaviour comes from a very small segment, but we want everybody to know this behaviour is not ok and it has to stop now.”