Stonnington councillors Mike Scott, Melina Sehr, Nicki Batagol under fire for face mask-less photo

A trio of inner city councillors have come under fire for a un-socially distanced selfie at a public gathering.

Stonnington councillors Melina Sehr, Mike Scott and Nicki Bategol could be in hot water for this selfie at a community meeting. Picture: Cr. Mike Scott – City of Stonnington South Ward Facebook page.

Three inner city councillors including a Green and two independents could face police attention after posing together without face masks and plugging it on social media.

But Stonnington Council has defended Mike Scott, Melina Sehr and Nicki Batagol’s “brief photograph”, saying they complied with safety guidelines during a community meet-and-greet in Armadale.

Cr Scott uploaded the selfie, taken at Victory Square on February 21, on his councillor Facebook page where it remained until it was pulled this morning, February 24.

Under Victoria’s current coronavirus guidelines, face masks are mandatory outdoors when you can’t maintain 1.5m distance from other people.

Cr Scott posted that residents were “only required to wear a mask outdoors if you cannot socially distance” on his page on February 17.

Other community members are seen wearing masks in the background of the photo.

Leader understands a community member has referred the photo to Malvern and Prahran police for investigation.

Cr Batagol said the councillors social distanced while speaking with community members during the meeting, and had face masks with them on the day.

But she said the trio might have made “an error of judgment for one photo” at the end.

“I hope people would judge on actions and the way we’ve behaved across the board, and not just one mistake,” she said.

“We’re always concerned about sending the wrong message, and we (councillors) always try to send the right message at all times.”

The council has spent more than $50,000 promoting safe social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.

It included hundreds of 1.5m-wide signs throughout Stonnington and spray-painting circles in Prahran Square and Malvern’s Central Park.

Ratepayers Stonnington president Dean Hurlston said the councillors’ photo sent the wrong message.

“While I accept its unintentional, it has completely destroyed the credibility of Stonnington’s consistent coronavirus safety messaging,” he said.

“I don’t think they attended malice or harm, but all three of them should have thought about it when it was posted,” he said.

The council’s chief executive, Jacqui Weatherill, said the councillors “leaned in for a very brief photograph before returning to social distancing” and had been following safety guidelines at the event.

“We have reached out to the councillors to ensure they are up to date with the most recent health and safety guidelines and announcements,” she said.

Cr Scott, Cr Sehr, and Stonnington police have been contacted for comment.

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