A Melton councillor says she feels ’unsafe’ attending council meetings in person.
Councillor Ashleigh Vandenberg didn’t attend this week’s council meeting, apologising to residents on social media and accusing the council of denying her online access to the meeting.
Cr Vandenberg, who was listed as ’not attending’, was one of four councillors absent from Monday’s meeting. Councillors Phillip Zada and John Verdon were listed as apologies, and councillor Sophie Ramsey was on an approved leave of absence.
In a statement published on her Facebook page, Cr Vandenberg said that she contacted Melton the week prior to the meeting, requesting a link to join the meeting online.
“Due to events around my safety brought on by a false and defamatory official [mayoral] statement published through [the] official [Melton] account and website … last week I sought council to provide me a link to participate in tonight’s [Monday’s] meeting for my personal safety,” she wrote.
“Council has denied me this request despite being knowledgeable of the current circumstances and participating in them.
“I am not an apology, nor am I unwell to participate in tonight’s meeting. I am being denied access to represent my ward and community due to the actions of our local government.”
A Melton council spokesperson confirmed that Cr Vandenberg had requested a meeting link to remotely attend the meeting.
“[Melton’s] council chamber does not have the audio and visual technology for hybrid meetings. Council’s chamber has never had this technology for a councillor to attend an in-person meeting online,” the spokesperson said.
“During [Covid], council held its council meetings with all councillors online. After [this], council returned to in-person meetings.
“The September 2025 council meeting was advertised as an in-person meeting with members of the public in attendance. Additional security measures were offered to Cr Vandenberg to accommodate her in-person attendance.”
Star Weekly observed two security guards at the meeting, with one stationed either side of the doors to the council chamber.
On September 18, Melton mayor Steve Abboushi released a statement confirming that Cr Vandenberg has been referred to the local government minister and Local Government Inspectorate over a series of social media posts.
“Cr Vandenberg has made various unsubstantiated accusations of bullying, harassment and vilification. While council takes such accusations seriously, Cr Vandenberg has failed to provide any information or evidence to support them, despite repeated requests,“ his statement read.
