Monash Council Mayor Stuart James admits he ‘got it completely wrong’ in Facebook rant
A local mayor has been forced into an embarrassing apology after creating a storm of controversy with a social media post critical of a Murrumbeena cafe on the Australia Day public holiday.
East
Don't miss out on the headlines from East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
An eastern suburbs mayor has been forced to apologise after a Facebook post complaining about the slow service at cafe on the Australia Day public holiday attracted a storm of controversy.
Monash Mayor Cr Stuart James was critical of the service at LEVI in Murrumbeena where he claims he had to wait 19 minutes to order a coffee because of a staff shortage on January 27, and was then further outraged at having to pay public holiday rates.
“The 15 per cent ‘service’ surcharge for a public holiday was a little rich,” Cr James wrote.
“Surely wages are a part of doing business and should be factored into the cost of doing business across the year?”
Facebook users took to a post in response by LEVI part-owner Harry Butler, telling Cr James he was wrong.
Elle Catherine wrote: “Not cool Mayor Stuart James. NOT cool at all. Shame on you,” while Heather Duggan wrote: “That is deplorable action for a man in your position.”
Jan Murray wrote: “Wow Mayor on a $5.00 coffee it’s 75c. On your wage I doubt you should whinge.”
The post was made from his Facebook page known as Mayor Stuart James, which he says is a personal page despite it identifying him as a mayor.
He deleted the rant about half an hour after posting it.
Cr James told Monash Leader he deleted the post after realising he “got it completely wrong”.
“In the past I have posted about businesses on this page to support and promote local businesses however I made an error in judgment with my post on this particular business and have apologised both on social media and privately,” he said.
“I use this page for my own personal use but accept that it shouldn’t have been used in this way.”
Cafe part-owner Harry Butler said he considered the matter closed after Cr James apologised in person.
“When I saw the post originally I wasn’t too fussed because you get reviews all the time but then when I was looking into it and realised he was the mayor of Monash I was a bit surprised,” he said.
“I just thought he seemed to be disconnected from the realities of a small business.
“If he left the review with just his name we would have contacted him to talk about it but when you put your title as mayor in there it’s a bit different.”
On the cafe’s Facebook page, Mr Butler explained the reason for public holiday rates.
“If we were to build our public holiday penalty rates into a flat consistent price, then the cost of our products would price us out of the market and we’d have to close,” the post said.
Cr James approached staff at the cafe the following morning to apologise in person and later posted an apology to social media.
“Yesterday I made an error in judgment when I posted a comment about a growing local business that didn’t deserve my criticism,” he wrote.
MORE: BEREAVED PARENTS URGE CHECKS
BRIDGE CLUB TOURNAMENT QUALIFIERS
CHURCH ABOUT ‘BETTERMENT OF OTHERS’
“Soon after posting it, I realised it wasn’t the right thing to do, removed it and apologised as I didn’t want to cause any further distress.”
Fellow councillor Josh Fergeus said on his public Facebook page the incident “damages council”.
“I’m sorry for any negative impact on staff, customers and management at LEVI who will no doubt view Council poorly as a result,” he said.
“This shouldn’t have happened and I hope that we can all do better in the future.”