Riot squad called to fiery first Inner West Council meeting
THE woman at the centre of the ugly protest at the Inner West Council meeting last night has been identified as a Sydney-based graphic cartoonist, after images of her spitting on the administrator of the new council circulated today.
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THE woman at the centre of the ugly protest at the new Inner West Council meeting last night has been identified as a Sydney-based graphic cartoonist, after images of her spitting at the administrator of the new council circulated today.
The woman, identified as former UTS student Nicky Minus, was captured on video spitting at administrator Richard Pearson, who said the behaviour was unpleasant and unnecessary, but that he won’t be taking the matter any further.
“It occurred, I moved on, I’m getting on with trying to get this council to work,” he said.
The riot squad was brought in to the meeting to back-up overwhelmed security guards and just two police officers who were initially called.
The meeting, at the Petersham council chambers of the former Marrickville council, descended into chaos when hundreds of protesters jostled with Mr Pearson and interim general manager Vanessa Chan.
As he was attempting to leave the chambers, Mr Pearson was spat on by a woman and had papers knocked out of his hand by a man.
He said today he would not be laying charges against the woman who vehemently spat on him or the man that knocked his papers out of his hands as he left the meeting.
“As I walked out I was spat on by an individual, it’s unpleasant, it’s unwarranted. I’m sure all reasonable people would think that’s the case. It occurred, I moved on, I’m getting on with trying to get this council to work,” he said.
“Police were present I’m not looking at laying charges. I hope that individual considers her behaviour going forward.
“Somebody stood in my way on the way out who was not keen to move out of my way but ultimately did and felt it necessary to throw some of my papers to the ground. Again unpleasant, unnecessary, achieving nothing other than embarrassing themselves.”
Mr Pearson said the behaviour of the protesters bordered on violence but he would not be deterred from carrying out the council’s business and was rescheduling the abandoned meeting.
Former Leichhardt mayor Darcy Byrne said the spitting incident was deplorable.
“It was totally and utterly unacceptable,” he said.
He today issued a joint statement, along with the two other former mayors of Ashfield and Marrickville, calling for calm and for public servants to always be treated with courtesy and respect.
“The primary purpose of the statement is to try and lower the temperature,” he said.
Mr Pearson had opened the meeting amid howls of various chants, including a consistent “out, out, out”.
“Will people allow me to speak,” he said, to which there was a resounding “no”.
After less than five minutes, Mr Pearson, Ms Chan and other council staff had no choice but to pack up and leave.
Balmain state Greens MP Jamie Parker and sacked former mayors and councillors took control of the chamber, fearing Mr Pearson would reopen the meeting if they all left.
Mr Byrne, who has taken the lead role in the “Elected Mayors Council of the Inner West”, told the meeting they were there to send a message.
“We want our democracy back,” he said.
“We’ve all give the administrator a warm welcome.
“But we want Mike Baird to know that the person we’re really sending the message to is him.
“Mr Premier, if you think that by abolishing our councils, and installing a hand picked administrator in place of the people’s representatives, that you have won this battle, you are sorely mistaken.
“This council ... will be unworkable until democracy is restored.”
However, Mr Byrne said today he and the former Ashfield and Marrickville mayors have expressed to Mr Pearson a willingness to participate constructively in a committee system to protect residents from having essential services disrupted and to ensure infrastructure projects proceed.
Do you know who spat at Mr Pearson? Email news@dailytelegraph.com.au or call 9288 3596
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