Argument over whether councillors can answer public questions results in Trent Aitken being kicked out of meeting

A councillor says he ‘won’t be apologising soon’ after an argument flared up during a monthly meeting. And it’s not the first time he’s been kicked out.

Burnie councillor Trent Aitken. Picture: Supplied.

Trent Aitken has been kicked out of a council meeting for the third time in his current term as a Burnie councillor.

On Tuesday night, he was booted out of the January council meeting after arguing with Burnie Mayor Teeny Brumby about whether councillors could answer public questions.

A member of the public gallery asked a question directed at Councillor Ken Dorsey about his opposition to the Burnie City Centre Urban Plan Working Group.

Ms Brumby explained that usually only the mayor would answer questions on behalf of the council, but in this instance, she would allow Mr Dorsey himself to respond.

However, Mr Aitken raised a point of order and asked Ms Brumby if a councillor had ever answered a question from a member of the general public.

Burnie City Council mayor Teeny Brumby. Picture: Burnie City Council.

She said it had not happened before and had already asked Mr Dorsey if he was comfortable answering the question.

But Mr Aitken was not impressed.

“I think it sets a precedent, as many people have come before and tried to ask questions directly of councillors,” he said.

“And I think that if Cr Dorsey actually answers this question, if another member of the public was to come and ask a question of myself and I refuse to answer it, then that would open me up.”

The pair continued to argue, and Ms Brumby threatened to eject Mr Aitken from the meeting.

“I think you’re opening your councillors up to be publicly ridiculed or picked on in the public because they may or may not choose to answer a question,” Mr Aitken said.

“As a member of the public that’s asked many public questions here, at no point in time have I ever been able to ask it of a councillor.

“So no, I won’t withdraw anything; you can do whatever you like.”

Shortly after, Mr Aitken was kicked out of the meeting.

City of Burnie council chambers, Burnie council, file, illustrative picture of the Burnie City Council chambers. Picture: Elise Kaine

Speaking to the Mercury afterwards – he said it was “not the first time I’ve been kicked out of a meeting, and probably won’t be the last.”

“I don’t know why they decided last night that the process would change,” Mr Aitken said.

“And if they want to make the changes, then they should inform councillors of the changes they want to make, not just dump it on them in a meeting.”

Mr Aitken said he was not phased about being kicked out of the meeting.

“It kind of is what it is.

“No, I’m not sorry; no, I won’t be apologising soon, and I think I was well within my rights to speak my mind and say I wasn’t happy with the way that the meeting was proceeding.”

Mr Aitken was kicked out of his first Burnie City Council meeting in November 2023 after telling a colleague to “do some research on what racism is.”

Three months later, in February 2024, he was ejected from another meeting after he refused to withdraw the comment “homeless druggies.”