Brimbank council has “reviewed its safety protocols” as a growing number of councils are forced to deal with protests from fringe groups during council meetings.
Last week, Monash council was forced to suspend temporarily suspend its council meeting after protestors opposing an upcoming drag story time hurled abuse at councillors.
The week before, Yarra Ranges council announced it would close its public gallery after what it described as an “increasing pattern of abuse” and “intimidation” from attendees at meetings this year.
The fringe groups have also been attending council meetings across Melbourne’s north-west. Like Brimbank, a number of councils in the region have strengthened their safety protocols in response, with some hiring security guards.
Brimbank deputy mayor Ranka Rasic said council had reviewed its safety protocols to ensure the safety of councillors, staff and the community during council meetings.
“We will not tolerate any behaviour that threatens the safety of anyone present in the chamber during a council meeting, or which disrupts the ability for council to conduct its business on behalf of the community,” she said.
She said the chamber remains open for council meetings, which can also be viewed via a livestream on the council website and YouTube page.
Municipal Association of Victoria president David Clark said he supported councils taking steps to ensure the safety of councillors, council employees and the community.
“The Municipal Association of Victoria supports … any council doing what they need to, to ensure the safety of their community, employees, and councillors is their number one priority,” he said.
“This ongoing behaviour is threatening and unpredictable and it has no place in our communities and shouldn’t be accepted at any level of government or board. Councils are right to take a zero tolerance approach, as the people most at risk are other community members who are in the gallery with the disruptive people.
“All councils now provide live streaming of council meetings, so every resident can continue to watch and see council making decisions. Closing galleries also does not remove the opportunity for public questions of the council, these are still available to residents, all be it in a slightly different manner.”
