Police presence possible at future council meetings after rowdy protests over CCTV surveillance

SA’s top cop says police may intervene if protesters continue to disrupt council meetings, and he supports the CCTV technology they claim is a tool for sinister surveillance.

The head of SA Police says escalating council protests at Salisbury and Onkaparinga means he is unable to rule out sending police to keep the peace at future council meetings.

At the same time, Commissioner Grant Stevens foreshadowed the possibility of SA Police pushing the state government to increase the availability of CCTV footage across SA – exactly what the groups have been protesting against.

Mr Stevens told ABC Radio he “hoped” a presence at all council meetings moving forward was “not going to be the case”.

“We shouldn’t forecast the future based on a few incidents,” he said.

About 100 protesters attended Salisbury Council meetings on Monday and Tuesday night in response to the council’s plans to use “smart city” technology in the northern suburbs.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Apparent protest organiser Grant Harrison speaks on Monday as councillor Grace Bawden watches on. Picture: Brinley Duggan

The opposition to the technology flared when two of the council’s own members posted misinformation comparing smart cities to concentration camps, and allegedly encouraged the protest by sharing a flyer asking “massive” numbers to flock to the meeting.

In a wild deputation at the Tuesday meeting, Matilda Bawden – the mother of councillor Grace Bawden and a failed council candidate herself – implied the City of Salisbury had been infiltrated by people she accused of being Nazis.

However, she denied she was spreading conspiracy theories.

“What part of this is a conspiracy theory then?” she said.

“That (World Economic Forum founder Klaus) Schwab has boasted of infiltrating governments? Probably like this council, I suspect.”

Mr Schwab has been the repeated target of debunked social media claims that he is descended from high-ranking members of the German Nazi party of the 1930s and 40s.

The conspiracy has been founded on debunked claims Mr Schwab has pushed for smart cities and facial recognition to be rolled out across the world.

An extract from a motion proposed by Salisbury councillor Beau Brug in response to conspiracy theories circulating in the local community. The motion passed 12-2.

Matilda Bawden delivered a deputation at the Salisbury council meeting. Picture: Today Tonight

Matilda Bawden unsuccessfully ran for council and federal parliament after she was banned from working as a social worker by the Health & Community Services Complaints Commissioner.

Mr Stevens on Wednesday said while there was currently no facial recognition technology in the state, police would consider lobbying for its use in the future.

“We are talking about this ... we’ll have a position on this and we’ll be talking about it from the way it supports our investigations and enables us to proactively respond to potential incidents,” he said.

“There are lots of opportunities as we move forward as technology improves where we can enhance our investigative capability.

“I certainly advocate for it. It’s a great resource, and I think it enhances public safety significantly.”

City of Salisbury chief executive John Harry and Mayor Gillian Aldridge. Picture: Brinley Duggan

Protesters gather on Monday night to protest Salisbury’s smart cities plan. Picture: Brinley Duggan

The Tuesday night council meeting, which went ahead after the previous meeting was cancelled due to a power outage, featured intense debate about the protest group’s opposition to the council’s smart cities proposal.

The protesters claim that the council is adopting technology comparable to George Orwell’s novel Big Brother, that they say will track their movements.

Tuesday’s meeting was rife with discussion on smart cities, and included a seven-minute speech by Ms Burner which cited a debunked and absurd conspiracy that billionaire Elon Musk had created four microchips which became sentient and used artificial intelligence to kill nine of his employees.