Clifton Saltner sentenced for violent Yeppoon Centrelink incident

A Queensland Centrelink building went into lockdown, trapping clients inside with frightened staff as an enraged disability pensioner screamed threats at the manager and police. DETAILS.

Clifton Graham Saltner.

A Central Queensland Centrelink building was forced into lockdown after Clifton Graham Saltner threatened to bash a manager’s head in during an angry rage.

Saltner was at the Services Australia complex on Yeppoon’s Arthur Street helping a friend with a matter when he became unhappy about the support being offered.

He got aggressive towards a manager, swore at them and called them a “c***sucker” before saying “Do your f***ing job or I’ll bash your head in.”

Saltner continued his tirade of abuse, shouting and swearing at other customers.

He was asked numerous times to leave, but he continued to shout at the manager.

Saltner eventually went outside and sat on a bench and the Services Australia manager locked the building down with customers inside “for their safety.”

Police arrived and started talking to Saltner who shouted at and abused them.

Saltner called one officer an “a***hole” and he told police to “f*** off” because he “was not causing any f***ing nuisance today.”

Clifton Graham Saltner.

Members of the public were in the area at the time.

Saltner walked away and he was then arrested.

He turned around, faced police in a fighting stance with both fists raised, and continued to hurl obscenities.

As police tried to handcuff Saltner, he broke free and punched a senior constable to the ear and then in the face.

After a struggle, Saltner was taken to the watchhouse.

In Yeppoon Magistrates Court, Saltner, 52, accepted that version of events and pleaded guilty to two counts of public nuisance, and one count each of obstructing police and assaulting police - all offences stemming from the same incident on the morning of March 27.

The court heard he had a one-page criminal history and the prosecution sought compensation for the officer who was assaulted.

Solicitor Sam Hernandez said Saltner, who received a disability pension, was originally from Biloela and he had lived in Yeppoon for 20 years.

She said Saltner had been diagnosed with schizophrenia for which he was medicated.

Ms Hernandez said Saltner’s criminal history was “limited” and this behaviour was out of character for him.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale placed Saltner on 18 months’ probation and ordered he pay $500 compensation.

Convictions were recorded.