Transparency and 5G concerns prompt largest crowd at Gympie Regional Council meeting

Gympie Regional council has had its largest public turnout to a meeting in more than three years as dozens of residents front chambers to raise concerns.

Gympie Regional Council has had its largest public gallery turnout in more than three years after two dozen residents attended Wednesday’s meeting “spontaneously”, voicing concerns about transparency, 5G, and the legitimacy of governments.

The “health risks” of 5G phone reception, transparency and how Gympie Regional Council’s meetings worked were among the issues raised by two dozen locals at Wednesday’s meeting.

It was the largest public gallery turnout for a meeting since before Covid, with the council’s staff forced to find extra seating to accommodate the crowd.

The group watched largely in quiet, except for one interruption shutdown by Mayor Glen Hartwig.

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“We can speak with you after the meeting,” Mr Hartwig said.

“Yeah sweet,” the man said.

“I have the facts to back up all the information too though.”

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Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig was forced to quieten down one of the two dozen people assembled in the gallery who interrupted discussion at Wednesday’s council meeting.

The exchange did not reveal what the “facts” were in relation too

A source said after the meeting it involved the “fraudulent” and “treasonous” creation of the state government and its acts.

It was unknown if there was any connection to the “sovereign citizens” movement, which has been gaining ground across the country.

People claiming to belong to the group, which describes individuals who believe they - not judges, juries, law enforcement, or elected officials - should decide which laws are obeyed, have made headlines after refusing to recognise the authority of police.

Following the meeting several of the observers engaged councillors with their concerns.

One who declined to be named told this publication the assembly was “just community members … who want transparency”.

“We’ve come here to the council to see exactly what’s going on.”

She said today’s gathering was not organised, occurring “spontaneously” as Wednesday morning’s meeting was the “first meeting that’s open to the public”.

Another of the gathered residents said there was surprise the council’s meetings were open as they were told Monday in a phone call it would be closed.

The safety and health risks of 5G towers was among the concerns raised by members of the crowd at a Gympie council meeting.

“Communication, especially when you go on the website, doesn’t advise whether it’s a closed meeting or an open meeting,” a third observer, named Craig, said.

The council’s meeting were closed to the public in April 2020 due to Covid restrictions.

They were reopened to the public in July 2022.

The council has maintained a livestream service since the Covid-enforced closure.

Craig said this had its own problems.

“It doesn’t tell you the intricacies of the meeting, it doesn’t give you the details of what’s on the screen at the time,” he said.

The location of the livestream camera did not display what was on the screen either, he said.

The on-screen display at the meetings is published days beforehand at the council’s website.

The council is required to publish its unconfirmed minutes including any revised or changed motions within 10 days of the council meeting.

Minutes are confirmed at the following meeting.

Craig said there were ongoing concerns about the risk of 5G installations in the region.

“Our understanding is the council allows permits for the erection of the towers,” he said.

He wanted to know “what the controls are, health-wise, or risk assessment, which identifies any adverse health effects and what their control measures are”.

A council spokesman said all work about 5G “is done under the telecommunications act”.