Unley councillor apologises for pushing one veteran and verbally abusing another

AN Adelaide councillor has been forced to apologise to two veterans over an “angry and aggressive” outburst over the relocation of a World War I monument.

Unley councillor Mike Hudson. Source: File

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A HEATED battle over the relocation of a World War I monument ended with an Unley councillor pushing one veteran and verbally abusing another, an investigation has found.

Cr Mike Hudson has been forced to apologise to Veterans SA director Rob Manton and TPI Association of SA president Leon Eddy over his “angry and aggressive” outburst at Adelaide Town Hall on July 25.

Unley councillors voted on Monday to impose the sanction following the partial release of an independent investigation into complaints about Cr Hudson’s alleged behaviour.

It found Cr Hudson “engaged in inappropriate and unprofessional conduct” when he appeared at Adelaide City Council to voice his opposition to the relocation of the Dardanelles Cenotaph from the south Parklands to the Anzac Memorial Walk on Kintore Ave in the city.

The Dardanelles Cenotaph in the south Parklands.

Veterans SA director Rob Manton.

The report confirmed Cr Hudson told Mr Eddy — who is reliant on a ventilator — that he should be “ashamed of himself” after he addressed City councillors in support of the move.

Cr Hudson then followed Mr Eddy, Mr Manton and another veteran, Chantelle Graham, out of the council chamber and confronted them in the hallway, according to the report from EMA Legal, which was based, in part, on CCTV footage.

Cr Hudson then struck Mr Manton on the right shoulder.

“The force appears to be more than a nudge … as he (Mr Manton) can be seen losing his balance and lurching forward,” the report stated.

Cr Hudson’s conduct amounted to six breaches of the elected member code of conduct, including a failure to “act in a way that generates community trust”.

Cr Hudson told the investigation he confronted Mr Eddy because he was angry over his allegation that Unley Council had “claimed exclusive ownership” of the cenotaph.

An artist’s impression of how the monument would look as part of the Anzac Memorial Walk.

He previously said that moving the monument — which was built in part to honour the 27th Battalion, also known as “Unley’s Own” — amounted to “emotional and historical theft”.

Cr Hudson told the Eastern Courier Messenger that the incident was a “storm in a teacup”.

“I am fast approaching 80 (years of age) and it is unlikely that I would be involved in a punch-up,” he said.

He has already issued “brief” written apologies to Mr Manton, Mr Eddy, Ms Graham and Lord Mayor Martin Haese.

Councillors voted against releasing the full investigation report because of its “personal nature”.

Mr Manton said he believed Cr Hudson’s behaviour was unacceptable.

“What defines unacceptable is up to the individual, I guess, but I have been in military service for 30 years and I have a certain standard,” Mr Manton said.