Katherine councillor Amanda Kingdon takes aim at no-trespass ban

After being banned from entering council chambers, a councillor says her calls, emails and letters are being ignored, claiming her ability to represent her community has been hindered.

Councillor Amanda Kingdon has been sanctioned by the Katherine Town Council. Picture: Supplied.

After being hit with a no-trespass order, a councillor has accused the council of keeping her in the dark, claiming they are ignoring her calls, emails and letters which she says is impacting her ability to represent the community.

The accusation comes after Katherine councillor Amanda Kingdon was issued a no-trespass order on August 1 following an ongoing dispute first triggered when Ms Kingdon made an online comment about then-Attorney-General and Local Government Minister Chansey Paech in February.

Last week, the ABC reported three people had been listed on council minutes as having complained against Ms Kingdon for making the comment.

The only complainant named – Beverley Ratahi – told the ABC she was “shocked” to learn she had been name-dropped as a complainant and called the decision “misleading and extremely poor governance”.

Councillor Amanda Kingdon is leaning on legal advice following the no-trespass order. Picture: Katie Hall

After Ms Kingdon was hit with sanctions, her lawyer, Peter Maley, sent a letter to the council on August 9, requesting a motion be placed on the council meeting agenda as his client intended to move a motion the trespass order be revoked.

Mr Maley also asked that an independent mediator be appointed to resolve any ongoing conflicts.

“The issuing of a trespass notice in circumstances where our client simply articulated her strong views regarding certain political issues brings the entire system into disrepute.”

A fortnight since the letter was sent, however, Ms Kingdon says she is still waiting for a response.

“This whole thing has been manufactured, the documentation given to the council has been misleading and there has not been full disclosure throughout this process,” she said.

Ms Kingdon also took aim at the lack of communication since her ban came into effect.

“From writing submission letters, sending emails, making calls, I’m getting no response and just going around and around in circles,” she told the NT News.

“It needs to stop so I can fulfil my elected member duties and represent my community.”

Mayor Elisabeth Clark maintains the council took appropriate action and says a “clearly defined” process exists in which to complain against council and its decision.

In a public statement this week, Mayor Elisabeth Clark said she stood by the council’s decision to sanction Ms Kingdon and a process existed for those who wished to complain against the council.

“Due process also includes a clearly defined process to allow a complaint against council and its decisions,” she said.

“This process is well explained and available to all elected members, but whether they choose to follow it is entirely up to them.”

The NT News understands that Ms Kingdon has lodged nine official complaints against the council.

Katherine Town Council told this masthead that each complaint would take considerable time to close as it must be reviewed, sometimes with an external body, before any response can be provided.