‘I sincerely apologise’: Cr David Grace breaks silence on ‘sexist’ remarks

A councillor who was under fire for telling a fellow councillor “I will put you on your tail” has apologised after he was absent at the last two meetings. LATEST >>

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Kingborough Cr David Grace was absent from the previous two council meetings citing a long term medical condition, but he appeared to apologise in person to Cr Paula Wriedt on Monday evening.

Kingborough Councillor Paula Wriedt directly addresses Councillor David Grace at the Council meeting on Monday June 7 after his apology for comments made in November at a workshop which were found to breach the Code of Conduct.

He was ordered to apologise to Cr Wriedt and to the broader council after his comments made in a workshop in November were found to have breached the Code of Conduct.

“I accepted the Code of Conduct decision totally and I will abide by that,” Cr Grace said.

“I sincerely apologise for any inappropriate words I said at the workshop to councillor Wriedt (who was) feeling physically threatened.

Kingborough councillor David Grace at the Kalis retail development in Margate. Picture: Sam Rosewarne

“I now realise I need to be more careful how I express my words. I am genuinely remorseful and never intended to upset Cr Wriedt.”

Cr Grace extended his apology to the wider council for “any embarrassment I may have caused”.

Cr Wriedt responded, acknowledging and accepting Cr Grace’s apology.

She repeated a statement made in a previous meeting that she previously said she would say to Cr Grace in person.

“Threatening me was not okay,” she said.

David Grace apologised at tonight's council meeting for threatening to put Cr Paula Wriedt on her tail. Cr Paula Wriedt is in a Blue jacket. Picture Eddie Safarik

“You made me feel unsafe. Please think about how you use your words, think about how damaging they can be.

“Please learn from this.”

Cr Grace responded: “I don’t want to comment on that any further, thank you.”

He has also been ordered to undertake six hours of anger management and appropriate workplace behaviour counselling.

If he had missed his third meeting in a row, his office would have become vacant under the Local Government Act.