Darwin city councillor Amye Un banned from workplace, meetings

A councillor has been banned from coming to work and even attending council meetings amid an increasingly bitter dispute within the Darwin city council.

A Lyons Ward councillor has been banned from entering council buildings and even attending council meetings amid an increasingly bitter dispute within the City of Darwin.

Council staff issued Amye Un a trespass notice on Tuesday, banning the elected representative and local business owner from entering council buildings and facilities for a year.

It comes after Ms Un was handed a code of conduct warning for a personal social media post in which she opined it was unfair ex-councillor Paul Arnold was awarded a $100,000 government grant, several weeks after he was issued a domestic violence order.

The council statement issued on Tuesday said chief executive Simone Saunders provided advice to Ms Un over the matter, to which Ms Un allegedly responded to with “aggressive and threatening” posts.

Councillor Amye Un has been banned from entering council buildings and attending meetings for a year. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

“Unfortunately, Councillor Un has responded to this advice with a series of social media posts and media comments containing misinformation, aggressive and threatening language and personal attacks against Ms Saunders and the Lord Mayor,” it read.

“(The) City of Darwin has sought advice in relation to Councillor Un’s conduct.”

A council spokeswoman also confirmed the matter had been referred to police.

In a letter handed to Ms Un, seen by this publication, the council’s security manager Reece Ravlich said several staff members had provided copies of two posts Ms Un allegedly made last week.

One of two social media posts by councillor Amye Un at the centre of the council's decision to ban her from council buildings. Picture: Supplied

“It is alleged that you published a social media post, which among other things, stated ‘... I will stab you in the front so you know, who I’m (sic)’,” the letter read.

“This sentence immediately precedes a sentence whereby you refer to the City of Darwin chief executive officer.

“I believe that you intended this sentence to be a direct threat to stab the City of Darwin chief executive officer.”

It also detailed another post in which Ms Un is alleged to have said “GUN ALREDY (sic) FULL UP WITH BULLETS”.

“The reference to a firearm and the sentence quoted above immediately precedes sentences that refer to a Code of Conduct complaint which has been referred to the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory,” the letter to Ms Un read.

The other social media post by councillor Amye Un at the centre of the council's decision to ban her from council buildings. Picture: Supplied

When contacted for comment, Ms Un said the comments were not intended to be taken literally and that “words” were her only weapon.

She also said “this regime has to be stopped”, while claiming the council had a culture of bullying.

“The bullying is not acceptable in the workplace, (it is) unhealthy in a work culture,” she said.

“So many women are being bullied until they’re scared to say one word.

“I’m the first person standing up to tell the truth.

“This power of the arrogant bureaucrats has to be stopped.

“I’m democratically elected by the Darwin community and they (council staff) do not respect my position as a councillor.”

The media statement said the trespass notice was valid for 12 months but would be reviewed in three months, while it could be revoked at any time if any risks had become “appropriately managed”.

“Councillor Un will be able to attend council briefings, council meetings and relevant committee meetings via video conference while the trespass notice is in effect,” it said.

“The safety and wellbeing of City of Darwin staff is of upmost (sic) priority and these measures have been put in place to maintain a safe workplace.”

Mayor Kon Vatskalis said he could not comment as the trespass notice was an operational matter and not a decision of other elected councillors.