VICTORIAN councillors have met to brainstorm ways to combat a surge in disruptive behaviour at public council meetings.
Frankston Council is just one of many councils across Victoria who have had to deal with an increase in disruptive behaviour from the public gallery in the last year. In October, members of the public attending a Frankston Council meeting were thrown out after repeated interruptions (“Public booted after council meeting mayhem” The Times 31/10/22).
This year, Yarra Ranges Council went to the length of banning the public from attending meetings in person. The move came after it called the police to its January meeting. It continues to livestream its meetings.
Last week, around 100 Victorian council representatives convened at a Municipal Association of Victoria meeting to discuss the issue. MAV president David Clark said “the ongoing behaviour we have seen at council meetings is threatening and unpredictable and it has no place in our communities. It shouldn’t be accepted at any level of government.”
“Councils are right to take a zero tolerance approach, as the people most at risk are often other community members who are in the gallery with the disruptive people.” Clark said.
Many of the disruptive attendees are members of the “My Place” network. The group’s members regularly share conspiracy theories online, and organise plans to attend council meetings. The group is led by a failed political candidate for Frankston.
Frankston Council was contacted for comment.