”Poor behaviour”: Dean Winter slams Grace dummy spit

A former mayor says Kingborough councillor David Grace should “reconsider his position” after emotions boiled over at Monday’s council meeting. WATCH THE SPAT>>

A heated spat at Kingborough Council’s meeting has sparked renewed calls for an overhaul of the code of conduct framework for councils.

Kingborough Councillor David Grace unleashed fury on deputy mayor Jo Westwood, who was chairing the meeting at the time, when she asked him to stop interjecting.

Labor MP and Former Kingborough mayor Dean Winter said Cr Grace’s behaviour was “disgraceful.”

“I felt desperately sorry for the deputy mayor Jo Westwood who I thought did her best to try and keep him in line,” Mr Winter said.

Former Kingborough mayor Dean Winter. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Winter said it was a pattern of behaviour for Mr Grace.

“It goes to the continuation of his poor behaviour over three and a half years over this term of council,” Mr Winter said.

“Every single council meeting he attends he tries to disrupt.

“Cr Grace should reconsider his position on Kingborough council if he hasn’t already.”

Mr Winter said an overhaul of the code of conduct framework was needed

The state government released the outcomes of a review of the code of conduct framework in December.

Mr Winter said Kingborough wasn’t the only council plagued with problems and he wasn’t the only one who had pleaded for change.

“We’ve had problems in local government caused by rogue councillors and their behaviour and this is one example,” Mr Winter said.

“More local government ministers than I can count have tried to deal with this problem and not effectively done anything.

“They’ve done nothing and so we continue to have the same behaviour that continues to reflect poorly on local government in Tasmania.”

The Local Government Association of Tasmania president Christina Holmdahl said the incident was a reminder of the need for an overhaul.

LGAT persident Christina Holmdahl. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Ms Holmdahl said there was too much time spent on trivial matters, while serious matters were falling through the cracks.

“It is a high priority for the sector as the current code of conduct framework is failing us,” Ms Holmdahl said.

“We are concerned the proposed amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 hasn’t happened yet, despite the Government committing to do so in December last year.”

Local government minister Nic Street said the government was committed to strengthening the Code of Conduct framework.

“The office of local government and the office of parliamentary counsel are currently finalising a draft for the required changes to the Local Government Act 1993,” Mr Street said.

“The draft bill will be released for consultation in the coming weeks.”

“Get the cops”: emotions boil over in council

JUNE 7

“Come across and eject me from the meeting, girl” were the fighting words of Cr David Grace as Monday’s Kingborough council meeting erupted into chaos, leaving the deputy mayor on the verge of calling police.

The council was discussing the possibility of a rates remission for the Kalis group when Cr Jo Westwood grew tired of Mr Grace’s peppered interjections.

“I’m getting very annoyed with you and I don’t want you interjecting anymore,” Ms Westwood said.

Kingborough Council has been forced to increase its budget for graffiti cleaning from $5000 to $30,000. Deputy Mayor Jo Westwood is pictured in Beach Road, Kingston. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

As Mr Grace began to interject again, Ms Westwood issued a stern warning.

“If you keep interjecting, I will eject you from this part of the meeting,” she said.

“You come and take me out, you’re most welcome, come across” Mr Grace said.

“I’m warning you, that’s what I will do councillor Grace because I have had enough,” Ms Westwood said.

“You know what? You come across and eject me from the meeting girl, you come and try,” he said.

Mr Grace said he was entitled to debate things on behalf of council.

“You’re entitled to a set number of minutes just like every other councillor around this table and you push it,” Ms Westwood replied.

The situation escalated with Mr Grace issuing his own threat.

“Don’t threaten me deputy mayor, I’ve had enough of you threatening me, I’ll be going off my head at you one night and tear this place apart, if you keep threatening me like that,” he said.

Kingborough councillor David Grace. Picture: Kenji Sato

When Ms Westwood finally ordered Mr Grace to leave the meeting Mr Grace told her to “go get the cops.”

“Is that what I need to do to eject you from the meeting? Fine,” Ms Westwood said with her phone in hand.

“Are you leaving or am I calling the police?“

Before the situation could escalate further before a live digital audience, Cr Christian Street asked if the council could adjourn under the circumstances.

After seven minutes cooling off the tea room, both Ms Westwood and Mr Grace returned.

“I apologies for the previous viewing, that was unprofessional of me,” Ms Westwood said.

“I just want to apologise, I’m very passionate and if I get out of hand I’m very sorry about that,” Mr Grace said.

It’s not the first time Mr Grace has been involved in conflict.

In May last year he threatened to put Cr Paula Wriedt “on her tail”, after she confronted the sexist tone of remarks during a workshop.

He was required to apologise to Ms Wriedt but failed to attend the meeting where he was supposed to do so.

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