Brisbane Deputy Mayor Krista Adams to close office after police Gaza protest warning

Brisbane’s deputy mayor will close her southside ward office on Friday after police told her that protest group Justice For Palestine will rally there.

Brisbane’s deputy mayor will close her southside ward office after police told her that protest group Justice For Palestine will rally there after uproar over a Greens newsletter attacking the Israeli military action in Gaza.

It is not known if police advised Councillor Krista Adams to close her Holland Park ward office, on busy Logan Rd in Mount Gravatt, or if they merely informed her of the protest, planned for 3-6pm on September 6.

Justice For Palestine has held a number of rallies in Brisbane since the Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent retaliation by the Israeli government, which has sparked global calls for a ceasefire.

Both Greens councillors, Seal Chong Wah and Trina Massey, have shared on their social media details about previous JFP rallies.

Ms Massey’s Greens predecessor in The Gabba ward, Jonathan Sriranganathan, attended one of those protests in King George Square.

Ms Massey and Ms Chong Wah were not expected to attend Friday’s protest and were not aware of it until media reports.

Deputy Mayor Krista Adams' ward office will be closed on Friday due to a planned Gaza protest.

The news came after Ms Adams revealed on Wednesday that she had written to Council’s Acting CEO asking him to investigate whether a community newsletter produced by Ms Massey’s office breached guidelines.

The six-page newsletter contained two pages of information condemning Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories.

Ms Massey insisted the newsletter was approved by Council officers and met guidelines.

“Tomorrow (Friday) I’ve got a full day of meetings, getting on with my job representing the people of The Gabba ward,’’ she said.

“The LNP bypassed their own Council processes to launch a political attack aimed at censoring Brisbane residents and their political opponents, so I’m not surprised that some Brisbane residents are staging a peaceful protest in response.

“The LNP claim that Brissie residents don’t care about Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, but this protest makes clear that the LNP are wrong.’’

Protestors gather in King George Square during a Justice for Palestine rally. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Council was asked if the LNP-dominated administration knew about the newsletter before it was approved but did not directly respond.

It said in a statement that “advice is being sought about the ongoing safety of staff and residents visiting the office, as well as the personal safety of Ms Adams’’.

“I apologise to local residents for any inconvenience, however this decision was necessary to ensure the safety of staff and visitors,’’ Ms Adams said.

“Local councillor newsletters should be about local issues and the divisive and offensive material in the Greens councillor’s newsletter has no place in a publication funded by Brisbane residents.’’