MELTON police were called to last week’s council meeting to remove a protester after he refused to leave the chambers when asked.
Members of the Melton Rural Landowners Group were holding placards protesting increased rates for development land.
At the start of the meeting, mayor Justin Mammarella asked some members of the gallery to remove their placards as they posed a tripping hazard.
A member of the gallery refused to follow the direction and voiced his objections.
Cr Mammarella again asked the man to leave the chambers, but he refused.
“The gentleman raised his voice. I asked him to be quiet and to leave but he refused,” Cr Mammarella said.
The mayor called for an adjournment, during which police were called.
Under the provisions of council’s local law, “silence should be maintained in the gallery at all times, unless the mayor allows otherwise. A visitor to the gallery must not interject or interfere with debate that occurs in the chamber”. Cr Mammarella said the incident was the “worst” he’d seen during eight years on the council.
The council’s customer engagement manager, Daniel Hogan, said a person who failed to leave the chamber directed by the mayor could face a penalty of $500.
Melton’s Inspector Mario Fiorentino said the man “left without incident or charge”.
In a statement, the Melton Rural Landowners Group said members were in attendance to exercise their right to stage a silent protest. “All people were seated and holding their signs so there really was no risk. It was merely the mayor trying to force his power over the people. Hopefully residents of Melton will exercise their rights in October when council elections come up.”
As reported by the Weekly, hundreds of rural landholders are paying hundreds of dollars more in rates this financial year.
