Trent Sullivan and Jan Farrell clash at fiery Geelong council meeting

Trent Sullivan was given some colourful advice by a well-known City Hall figure after he challenged her presence in an exclusive area during last week’s heated council meeting. WATCH THE VIDEO.

A Geelong councillor was told by a local advocate who spent several years at City Hall to “not be a d***head” after he admonished her for approaching the council bench soon after the controversial January 26 motion.

Trent Sullivan was visibly unhappy when Jan Farrell ventured from the public gallery into the area reserved for councillors and city officials at last Tuesday’s meeting.

Video of the event shows Ms Farrell approach councillors Emma Sinclair and Elise Wilkinson soon after Mayor Stretch Kontelj called a five-minute break following the heated hour-long debate.

Ms Farrell was the first, but not the only person to enter the area.

Mr Sullivan, seated to the right of Ms Sinclair, initially seemed surprised by Ms Farrell’s presence.

The pair exchanged words and after being urged to return to the public area by Mr Sullivan, multiple sources familiar with the situation said Ms Farrell told him to “not be a d***head” as she departed.

Former Geelong councillor Jan Farrell (left) approached councillors Emma Sinclair and Elise Wilkinson following the controversial January 26 vote, angering Trent Sullivan (bottom left). Source: YouTube / City of Greater Geelong.

Mr Sullivan declined to comment specifically on the remark, but said he had not made a formal complaint.

Ms Farrell, a Geelong councillor from 2004 to 2016, would only say “no comment” to questions.

Mr Sullivan said “nobody was above the rules when it came to local democracy”.

“Being a councillor or ex-councillor doesn’t give you special rights more so than anyone else,” he said.

“We should all respect and abide (by) the same set of rules.”

The public gallery was at capacity during debate of the motion that passed seven votes to four.

In what was at times a volatile environment, a crowd of about 50 was forced to stand and opposing groups regularly exchanged barbs.

Some observers noted the lack of security but City Hall’s executive director of corporate services Troy Edwards said council was “always committed to ensuring that appropriate measures are in place”.

“We continually review our security protocols to ensure they meet the needs of each session, especially when there are contentious or emotive issues being discussed,” he said.

“We work to maintain clear boundaries between the public gallery and the council bench to preserve the decorum of the meeting.

“While there are times during breaks when members of the public may engage with councillors in the gallery, this interaction is not permitted at the council bench.”

Ms Farrell has long been a champion for socially progressive causes and is co-convener of the Rainbow Local Government campaign, a group that champions equality and LGBTIQA+ candidates.

She previously served on council alongside Eddy and Stretch Kontelj.

Jan Farrell during her time as a Geelong councillor.

Ms Sinclair, a first-term councillor, stood for state parliament in 2022 under Fiona Patten’s Reason Party banner after running the party’s volunteer program during the 2018 election in which Ms Farrell was campaign director.

Vehemently opposed to Eddy Kontelj’s January 26 motion, Ms Sinclair introduced an ultimately unsuccessful alternative motion that was seconded by Ms Wilkinson.

The move attempted to uphold a May 2023 decision that saw council unanimously vote to cease referring to January 26 as Australia Day, as well as moving citizenship ceremonies to within three days of the date.

Originally published as Trent Sullivan and Jan Farrell clash at fiery Geelong council meeting