NSW Local Government Minister blasts ‘mob mentality’ at council protest which saw staff spat at

SPITTING protesters have been slammed for their “repulsive” behaviour at a council meeting. But critics say it’s the Government that is acting shamefully.

A “MOB mentality” and “repulsive behaviour” from people that should “hang their head in shame”.

That’s how NSW Local Government Minister Paul Toole described a council meeting on Tuesday night that was hijacked by protesters and ended with the riot squad being called.

Surrounded by a 200-strong crowd in a suburban Sydney hall, the administrator of the newly formed Inner West Council, Richard Pearson, was spat at and had his papers snatched as the first meeting of the local authority descended into a one-way slanging match as protesters shouted “out, out, out” at staff.

“Mums and dads would be horrified to see what occurred last night,” said Mr Toole on Wednesday following events at Marrickville Town Hall the previous evening.

“What we saw was spitting and physical intimidation taking place. When the administrator walked in he had his papers taken from his hand and thrown to the floor [and] the staff were abused. In local government there is no place for that.

“What we saw last night was not democracy; this was a mob mentality trying to disrupt the democratic process,” he said.

A protester spits at Inner West Council administrator Richard Pearson. Picture: Bryant Hevesi

FIT FOR THE FUTURE

Groups opposed to the amalgamation said the actions of a few were regrettable.

But they scoffed at the notion the protest struck at the heart of local democracy and said it was the minister who sacked elected councillors and left councils in the hands of unelected apparatchiks.

Earlier this month, the NSW Government announced that more than 40 local councils would disappear across NSW under its “fit for the future” merger plans to be replaced by 19 larger local authorities.

A further clutch of councils is expected to be merged pending legal action by the local authorities in question.

All councillors and mayors in the affected councils were immediately sacked with new elections not due to be held until September 2017.

On Tuesday night, the first meeting of the new Inner West Council, formed through the merger of the former Marrickville, Ashfield and Leichhardt councils, was due to take place. The protest forced it to be abandoned with sacked councillors then taking to the lectern.

Riot police had to be called to Marrickville Town Hall in Sydney’s Inner West.

‘HANG HEAD IN SHAME’

Mr Toole dismissed the demonstration saying it had more to do with the construction of the controversial WestConnex motorway project than council mergers.

“What we’ve seen was a Greens protest in relation to the WestConnex. If they wish to protest I ask them to do it in an appropriate manner. What they did last night during the Acknowledgement of Country was nothing short of disgusting and the Greens should hang their head in shame.”

He also demanded the Greens clarify whether they “endorse spitting and physical intimidation”.

Greens MPs Jenny Leong and Jamie Parker were at the meeting as were the former mayors of the three merged councils.

In a statement to news.com.au, Ms Leong, who is the MP for Newtown, said she was not aware of someone spitting and did not condone the behaviour.

“It was clear that the community was very upset by the undemocratic nature of the so-called representation that they will be subjected to for over a year until regular elections are held.

“Premier Baird and Toole have shamefully overseen the removal of local democracy, undermining community representation and seeking to prevent local opposition to their agenda which will see massive overdevelopment and a mammoth polluting tollway destroying our neighbourhoods,” she said.

Former mayors Lucille McKenna, Darcy Byrne (centre) and Sam Iskandar attended the meeting.

‘A DANCE OF MISSTEPS’

Spokesman for the Save Our Councils Coalition, Tom Sherlock, told news.com.au: “I don’t want violence of any kind. However I do completely understand emotions are running high and there is a lot at stake here.”

He said he was taken aback at Mr Toole’s comments that the protest undermined democracy. “Clearly the forced amalgamations process has been undemocratic and the termination of elected councils is undemocratic.”

Asked if he thought the State Government had made a misstep in its council merger process, Mr Sherlock said: “It’s less of a single misstep and more of complete dance of missteps.”

Inner West Council is one of 19 newly created councils in NSW through mergers of old municipalities.

AUTOCRATS

Former Ashfield mayor, Lucille McKenna, who was at the protest, has previously claimed Mr Toole confirmed to her and other Inner West mayors that they would not be sacked in the run up to fresh elections.

Mr Toole refused to confirm that conversation on Wednesday, only saying “councillors and mayors that have been genuine have a part to play in this process.”

Ms McKenna, and the other former mayors, Darcy Byrne and Sam Iskandar, released a statement which condemned the individuals involved in the attack. “There is never any excuse for threatening and insulting behaviour,” they said.

On Tuesday night, former Ashfield councillor Monica Wangmann told the crowd. “A lot of people in Australia died for democracy and their families expect this country to honour the democratic system.”

NSW Police said no arrests occurred at the meeting.