Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson calls out councillor Sandra Brown for her anti-Islamic Facebook posts

Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson has called out long-time councillor Sandra Brown for sharing anti-Islamic posts on Facebook.

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Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson has called out long-time councillor Sandra Brown for sharing anti-Islamic posts on Facebook.

Ms Thompson began Tuesday night’s council meeting by saying she was “appalled” by the derogatory posts shared by Cr Brown prior to the mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch.

The mayor moved a motion calling for the council to investigate and “determine (the) next steps”.

This may include considering the council’s code of conduct.

Cr Brown seconded the motion.

Onkaparinga Council Mayor Erin Thompson

Onkaparinga Councillor Sandra Brown

At the meeting, Cr Brown stood up and declared a conflict of interest and then the Mayor asked if she would second the motion and she said yes.

The Southern Times Messenger revealed on Tuesday that Cr Brown had shared material on her personal Facebook page that included a meme about halal being an “Islamic tax supporting the very people who want to see your demise” and a Senator Fraser Anning video about stopping Muslim immigration.

In response, Ms Thompson said: “The council is appalled by this unacceptable content, regardless of the timing and reiterate that these views do not represent the views of the City of Onkaparinga.

“We are part of the Refugee Friendly City program, we’re participants in the ‘Racism. It stops with me’ national campaign, we’re committed to providing multicultural programs and services each year, and we have strong relationships with cultural organisations locally and nationally.”

Ms Thompson will write to the City of Christchurch and to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Morphett Vale to express the council’s condolences and to denounce the material shared by Cr Brown.

Onkaparinga welcomes more than 1000 people each year at its annual citizenship ceremony.

“We are, and will remain, a welcoming and inclusive city, that recognises communities are made stronger and more vibrant through diversity and shared culture,” she said.