Two Salisbury councillors, including one who promoted Nazi slogans, have been removed from their roles

Salisbury Council has been “unanimous” in its decision to remove two elected councillors, including one who promoted Nazi slogans online and told colleagues to “f*** off”.

Two controversial Salisbury councillors, including one who has promoted Nazi slogans online and told colleagues to “f*** off”, have been removed from their roles at a meeting on Tuesday night.

Salisbury councillors Severina Burner and Grace Bawden have been removed from office after the pair were absent from three consecutive council meetings.

The expulsion of the councillors comes after a special City of Salisbury meeting in May, when a motion was passed saying council intended to “exercise its power” to remove the members.

Following their removal, Salisbury Council released a statement.

“Council unanimously resolved under section 54(1)(d) of the Local Government Act 1999 to remove Crs Burner and Bawden from office due to not attending three ordinary council meetings (March, April and May),” Salisbury deputy mayor Chad Buchanan said.

“Council was of the view that attending council meetings is a key responsibility to represent your community as an elected member”.

Screenshots taken from facebook post on the "Cr Severina Burner" Facebook page from three days ago captioned "We are not alone. Personal views". Picture: facebook

Both councillors have previously been found to have breached behavioural standards – but have not complied with directions to apologise.

They came under fire early in the year over comments comparing the council’s controversial smart city technology to concentration camps.

Cr Bawden was condemned for using Nazi terminology such as “Useless Eaters” and “Life Unworthy of Life” as purported “facts” on social media.

In one post, she labelled mayors, councillors and general managers as “kapos” – the term used for concentration camp prisoners enlisted by the Schutzstaffel to keep watch over other prisoners.

Former Salisbury councillor Grace Bawden. Picture: Salisbury Council

Former Salisbury Councillor Severina Burner.

In February, Cr Burner delivered a seven-minute speech in which she reiterated her beliefs in conspiracies. “Elon Musk has worked on a brain chip, he has one, he’s put it in robots,” she said.

Cr Burner has also posted a photo of a man contorted into a swastika on Facebook with the caption: “When I’m asked to kneel and apologise for being right”.

In April, she was captured on video telling colleagues to “f*** off” after raising concerns she had been made to look like an “idiot” during a meeting.

There will now be a vote countback, co-ordinated by the SA Electoral Commissioner, to fill the two roles.