Three regional leaders have sounded the alarm in the past week as online abuse and offline intimidation reach breaking point across the region.
Three very different situations have resulted in a chorus of the same message: this is not ok.
The first came in Moree Plains Shire Council, where Mayor Susannah Pearse made an emotional plea at the start of their meeting, following significant tensions in the chamber and online.
“I think we can all agree that lately, these meetings have been incredibly challenging for us all,” Mayor Pearse said.
In her opening remarks which she also posted to Facebook, she painted a picture of councillors dreading to walk into the chamber. The sense of foreboding, she said, is “a huge shame” and at odds with what elected office should feel like.
“In the last term of council, when I was Deputy Mayor, I looked forward to council meetings,” she said. “There is great honour in being able to undertake that role. But that honour also comes with responsibility.”
Moree Plains Shire Council Facebook post advising that Cr Kelly James had been censured for the third time.
The NSW Office of Local Government requires council meetings to be transparent, informed, inclusive, principled, trusted, effective, and orderly. That last bit matters, Mayor Pearse said.
“Councillors, staff and meeting attendees all behave in a way that contributes to the orderly conduct of the meeting,” she said.
But it goes deeper than just following rules. It’s about genuinely respecting that people hold different views.
“I think we can all respect that we all represent different views from across the shire, and that diversity of views is imperative,” Mayor Pearse said.
“It’s how democracy works and it makes our decisions better.”
She asked her fellow councillors to help turn things around. She wants them to feel the excitement of public service again, not dread.
“Let’s lead our community by example, respecting differences, listening to one another, and working together for a better future for the Moree Plains.”
Further east in Glen Innes Severn, the problem takes a different form.
Mayor Margot Davis came home from holiday to find herself on the receiving end of threats and heavy-handed pressure tactics related to an upcoming vote on a environmental and tourism project.
It’s not okay, Mayor Davis said firmly.
“Threatening councillors is not one of them,” she stated, referring to proper ways to influence council decisions.
“Community members have every right to raise concerns, put forward a view, provide information and lobby councillors. That is part of a healthy democracy, but it needs to be done respectfully and through the right channels.”
She noted there are proper channels for input: formal submissions through the Have Your Say portal, direct contact with councillors, public forums, and monthly Conversations with Councillors sessions that she introduced as Mayor specifically so people could sit down and talk one-on-one.
But what’s happening now goes beyond advocacy.
“What is not appropriate is using the threat of escalation to pressure councillors to commit to a particular vote before they have considered the report, the evidence and all relevant community feedback,” Mayor Davis said.
She reminded the community that councillors are elected to exercise their judgment, not to vote “according to the demands of the loudest people on one social media page.”
“Robust debate is welcome. Respectful disagreement is part of democracy,” Mayor Davis said. “Threats and attempts to dictate how councillors vote will not influence my decision.”
The third flashpoint erupted on the Facebook page of Member for Barwon Roy Butler, who watched in disgust as racist comments flooded a post about a preschool in Bourke.
The post showed a smoking ceremony at Bourke District Children’s Services, a school that educates children of all colours and cultures and has earned recognition for social cohesion work in the community.
“I’m glad those children can’t see the responses from people who don’t live in remote communities and are filled with poison,” Mr Butler wrote.
“The children are better than you already.”
Some of the comments crossed into bigotry, he said. Others included personal insults and even threats of violence.
He drew a sharp contrast between the hateful online comments and the community’s real values.
“Our remote communities are committed to respect and betterment,” Mr Butler said. “If you can’t support that go away and be angry by yourself. If you can’t be respectful just unfollow the page.”
“I’m all for free speech, but free speech does not mean you’re free to be an ignorant jerk.”
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