Facebook faux pas: What was Betty thinking? Councillor shares offensive post instead of Christmas greeting
AN Adelaide councillor who shared an offensive cartoon about Islam on her Facebook page says she’d intended to send a Christmas message instead. Here’s what actually appeared on her social media site.
AN Adelaide councillor — and face of her council’s cultural sub-committee — has shared an offensive cartoon about Islam via her personal social media account but says it was an innocent mistake.
Salisbury Central Ward councillor Betty Gill shared a cartoon that read “I wonder if I said ‘f — k Islam’ how many friends would say it also? Share and let’s see!”’ on her Facebook page early this week.
She shared the post less than four hours after she was re-elected as the chairman of the council’s Strategic and International Partnerships sub-committee, which is responsible for pursuing economic, social and cultural partnerships with cities across the globe.
It was her second election to the subcommittee, which requires a 12-month commitment.
The long-standing councillor said she had not intended to share the anti-Islam image on Monday and had meant to share an image celebrating the festive season, instead.
“It has been blown totally out of proportion and I have removed it,” Cr Gill, who has represented her community for more than 25 years, said.
“What happened was: I was scrolling down and stopped at that post to see what it was then just kept scrolling until I saw then next post, which was a Merry Christmas one, and I wanted to share that — and I do usually share these types of posts with my friends.
“But I must have clicked on the wrong one, the one about the Muslims … and didn’t realise that one had gone on (my page) so as soon as I realised, I apologised. It was an absolute accident.”
She also wrote a letter to the council’s chief executive John Harry to explain the situation in an attempt to prevent any “possible consequences” that may occur as a result of the post.
“I thought about how ghastly it was … and my friend in New South Wales had seen the comments on the post — from Cr Julie Woodman, Cr David Balaza and the Mayor (Gillian Aldridge) — and contacted me to tell me how to remove it, which I did,” Cr Gill said.
“I am very proud of the people who come to live in our city, I am very proud of those people because they are beautiful. I would never say anything derogatory about them.”
Mayor Gillian Aldridge said she was disappointed about the post.
“We are aware of that post and have been made aware that it was quickly removed from the elected member’s social media account,” Ms Aldridge said.
“The City of Salisbury is one of the most multiculturally diverse communities within Australia and we pride ourselves on being inclusive.”
She said she did not want to “get personal” about the matter so declined to comment further.
Former Deputy Mayor and fellow councillor Brad Vermeer planned to ask council staff at next week’s full meeting about whether disciplinary action was necessary.
“As someone who has worked very hard to welcome people of all backgrounds into our city, I was extremely offended by the post and the comments,” Cr Vermeer said.
“And I am concerned about how this will reflect on the City of Salisbury, which has prided itself on always being a multicultural community.”
“So my personal view is that consequences should most definitely be taken for that individual … whether that includes some kind of disciplinary action, counselling or training.”