Huon Valley Councillor Mick Newell set to be suspended after three code of conduct complaints against him were upheld

A high-profile Tasmanian counciller will be stood down tomorrow after a slew of social-media related complaints against them were upheld. Details >>

7HOFM breakfast host and Huon Valley councillor Mick Newell is set to be suspended from his civic role after three code of conduct complaints against him were upheld. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

A TASMANIAN councillor will be suspended for six weeks after having three code of conduct complaints against them upheld.

Two reports by a Code of Conduct panel will be tabled at the Huon Valley Council’s meeting on Wednesday in relation to complaints against councillor and breakfast radio personality Mick Newell.

In October last year, Cr Newell was officially cautioned by the panel after calling Lonnavale resident Geoffrey Swan a “parasite” and a “bloody coward” on Facebook.

Cr Newell told the Mercury at the time he accepted the panel’s ruling, but did not regret his comments.

Mr Swan has lodged two more complaints since then against Cr Newell for being a member of a Facebook group named ‘Call out the Huon Valley’s biggest whinger’ for his comments in the Mercury last year and for a reference made by Cr Newell during a council meeting about a “faceless group of people,” which Mr Swan said was a reference to him and others.

“I did make those comments and I stick by those comments,” Cr Newell said during the meeting.

Counting in the Tasmanian council elections as candidates meet at C3 Church, South Hobart to see the results. Tony Mulder (left) speaks with Huon hopeful Mick Newell. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

“I’m sick of having to put up with these gutless people. I’m sick of having to put up with these faceless people that sit behind keyboards they never put their hands up for public office, they do nothing but knock.”

During the panel’s investigation, Cr Newell said he thought the Facebook group “would be a bit of lighthearted fun”.

The panel upheld parts of the complaints and found Cr Newell had “brought the council or the office of councillor into disrepute and caused Mr Swan offence or embarrassment.”

The panel said being a member of the Facebook group demonstrated “poor judgment” and it was “difficult to conceive how identifying particular individuals within a community as ‘whingers’ could reasonably be construed as either ‘lighthearted’ or ‘a bit of fun’.”

“Given his profile as a radio announcer, as a councillor who received over 5000 votes in the 2018 council elections, and a person who has had a public profile since 2013 because of his participation in a popular television show, the panel does not accept that the community will fail to associate any comments from him with his role as a councillor,” the panel findings read.

MORE NEWS:

• Locals vow to maintain anti-prison pressure
• Salamanca Market return on the cards
• Tasmanians keen to return to the skies

“He is a councillor and the panel is of the view that the role brings with it responsibilities in public life beyond those of ordinary citizens and Facebook is part of public life.

“Cr Newell demonstrates limited insight into his behaviour. By repeatedly stating that he does

not regret statements previously found to have been a breach of the Code of Conduct, he

shows little regard for either the code or the panel.”

The panel ruled Cr Newell be suspended for six weeks from Wednesday and he complete counselling about “the tension between the role of councillor and private citizen.”

Cr Newell said he would not be appealing the decision and would no longer engage on social media.