Whyalla mayor Lyn Breuer facing assault charge after police probe into alleged elbowing of former deputy mayor’s wife

WHYALLA Mayor Lyn Breuer has been reported for assault following a Remembrance Day incident in which she allegedly elbowed the wife of a former deputy mayor (who is now one of Nick Xenophon’s SA Best candidates) out of a photoshoot.

Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer with sitting ALP member Eddie Hughes seconds after Angela Antonio was allegedly assaulted by Ms Breuer.

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WHYALLA mayor and former Speaker of State Parliament Lyn Breuer has been reported for allegedly assaulting a woman at a Remembrance Day ceremony in front of shocked veterans and soldiers.

Ms Breuer allegedly assaulted well-known local Angela Antonio, the wife of Whyalla’s former deputy mayor Tom Antonio — who was last week named as SA Best’s candidate for the Labor-held seat of Giles in the March poll.

The Advertiser can reveal Ms Breuer, 66, has been at the centre of a probe by Whyalla CIB since Ms Antonio reported the incident.

Detectives have taken statements from those who witnessed the alleged assault, which involved Ms Breuer elbowing Ms Antonio in the chest, causing soreness to her ribs and right breast.

Statements have been taken from a number of soldiers, several of whom came to Ms Antonio’s aid while she was on the ground.

On January 17, Ms Breuer was formally reported over the alleged assault.

Sources said she was fingerprinted and a DNA buccal (mouth) swab taken from her at the Whyalla police station.

The report is now being adjudicated by senior prosecutors and Ms Breuer will be summonsed to appear in court if the matter proceeds.

Ms Breuer was the first female Speaker in State Parliament in 2010. She held the seat of Giles between 1997 and 2014. She did not contest the 2014 election and was elected Whyalla mayor in 2016.

The Advertiser has contacted Ms Breuer for comment.

Nick Xenophon announces his new candidate Tom Antonio at the Whyalla Hospital last week. Picture: Dylan Coker

Local government politics in Whyalla has been beset with factional animosity and rivalry for some time with tensions between the Antonios, Ms Breuer and incumbent ALP member Eddie Hughes flaring on a number of occasions.

Mr Antonio resigned as deputy mayor in late 2016 as a direct results of the tensions.

Ms Antonio, 53, said she found the ceremony “very humbling’’ but was “appalled to be treated like that”.

She said prior to the ceremony starting adjacent the Memorial Oval gates she had been talking to a local veteran, Doug Templeton, whom she knew.

He had told her that his carer had not been able to attend with him and he had asked her to sit with him in seating at the front of the gathering.

“I thought that was an honour and I helped him sit down,’’ she said.

Lyn Breuer was SA’s first female Speaker in Parliament.

Immediately after the ceremony Ms Antonio said she had asked a photographer from the Whyalla News to take his photograph with a number of Australian Army soldiers who were present.

Mr Templeton had asked her to remain with him and be in the photograph.

Ms Antonio said at that point she saw Ms Breuer “come storming towards me’’ from some distance away.

She said Ms Breuer had stopped very close to her and had allegedly said to the photographer “hey you, take my photo.’’

“I had my back to the photographer but heard her say ‘I have a name’.

“I put my arm around her (Ms Breuer) but was mindful not to touch her, like you do for photos.

“She looked at me and her eyes were glaring and she said ‘not you’.’’

Ms Antonio said at that point Ms Breuer had used her left forearm and elbow to strike her in the right breast and ribs and “sent me flying”.

“It was so loud everybody heard it,’’ she said.

“I fell backwards into the Army men.”

The photograph was then taken without Ms Antonio, but with Ms Breuer and Mr Hughes posing with the soldiers — some of whom appeared visibly shocked.

Ms Antonio said when she had composed herself she spoke to Ms Breuer and said “I hope you are really happy now”.

“She just looked at me. I looked at the Army men’s faces and they were in shock. I walked away and got in my car and just drove.’’

She said she went home and “cried and cried and cried. I just could not believe it”.

Ms Antonio’s children took her to hospital to be examined because her chest was sore and she was kept for observation for several hours.

The next day she went to the police station and reported the incident. Mr Antonio also spoke to police and a formal investigation was launched.

Ms Antonio said she had received no apology from Ms Breuer and was prepared to give evidence in court over the incident.

“It is terrible behaviour from an elected official. She believes it did not happen, she is saying it did not happen,’’ she said.

“She is the mayor of the city and it was Remembrance Day.’’