A Tasmanian council meeting this week turned into an ugly mess of chaos and threats. 

A local council meeting in Tasmania’s south almost saw police called after Kingborough councillor David Grace’s interjections and questions tipped Acting Mayor Jo Westwood close to the edge.

“I am getting very annoyed with you and I don‘t want you interjecting anymore,” Cr Westwood said to Cr Grace.

“I’m warning you right now … if you keep interjecting I will eject you from this part of the meeting.”

Mr Grace did not accept the call to silence, saying; “You come and take me out. You’re most welcome, come across… you know what, you come across and eject me from the meeting, girl.”

Mr Grace said he felt threatened, statign; “I’ll be going off my head here one night and I will tear this place apart if you keep threatening me like that”.
An adjournment was called, and Cr Westwood apologised for being “unprofessional” when the meeting was resumed.

“Good evening everyone, thank you for your patience, apologies for the previous viewing,” she said.

“That was unprofessional of me … Cr Grace and myself have spoken in the tearoom.”

Cr Grace apologised for his actions too.

“I‘m very passionate and if I get out of hand I’m very sorry about that. I do apologise and I will sit at the meeting and we will continue on,” he said.

Cr Westwood said she accepted the apology.

Cr Grace has previously been ordered to undertake anger management and workplace behaviour counselling after comments in 2020, when he allegedly told about a young woman she needed a “male IT man” to help her, and also allegedly told fellow councillor Paula Wriedt, “I will put you on your tail” when she confronted him.

Those actions were found to be in breach of the councillors’ code of conduct.

After last night’s display, the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) has called for the State Government to urgently review the Code of Conduct Framework.

LGAT President, Australian Local Government Association Vice President and West Tamar Mayor Christina Holmdahl said while the LGAT does not comment on individual council matters, it is a stark reminder of the need for the promised changes to the Code of Conduct framework need to be progressed.

“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,” Cr Holmdahl said.

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

“The current system spends unnecessary time and resources on dealing with trivial matters, while on the occasions when serious misconduct occurs, the framework fails to sanction the breaches adequately.

“These shortcomings are at the core of the local government sector’s concerns over the framework.”

The LGAT has also commissioned a study into workplace health and safety for elected representatives.

“This work is due to conclude in mid-July and will look at the extent of the issues of elected representative bullying and harassment and what support is available to representatives experiencing it in their role on council,” Cr Holmdahl said.