A Maribyrnong councillor punched at last week’s chaotic council meeting has warned he could quit unless firm steps are taken to ensure safety at future meetings.
Security at Maribyrnong council is under review after a man punched Cr Miles and picked up Cr Quach before slamming him down on his head following a vote last Tuesday in favour of retaining paid parking in Yarraville.
The assailant also made a death threat to Cr Miles as he left, telling him, “You’re a f—ing dead man, Miles”.
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The 61-year-old from Yarraville handed himself in to Footscray police the next morning and has been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on January 28 on one count of recklessly causing injury and two of unlawful assault.
Police also interviewed a 28-year-old Mount Waverley man, but he was not charged.
The assaults came as anger boiled over when a move to repeal paid parking in Yarraville was voted down by councillors Miles and Quach and new mayor Cameron McDonald.
CR NAM QUACH IS HELPED TO THE FLOOR AT THE COUNCIL MEETING
With Cr Catherine Cumming declaring a conflict of interest as a Yarraville property owner, the vote was split 3-3 and the mayor used his casting vote to defeat the motion.
Cr Miles told Star Weekly that although there was no serious or permanent damage, he was shaken by the ordeal.
“It’s worrying, not only for me and Maribyrnong but councillors everywhere,” he said. “If the CEO can’t look me in the eye and tell me that sort of thing won’t happen again I will seriously consider quitting.”
Cr Quach said he felt fuzzy and was getting headaches from the incident, which broke his glasses and left him bloodied.
“Violence is never okay,” he said. “Whatever your view on a matter, this is totally unacceptable.”
Detective Inspector Marty Allison said the assaults were “an attack on the democratic process” and it was up to the council whether police would be at future meetings.
Police were due to meet with councillors and council staff ahead of last night’s development committee meeting.
‘Violence not okay, but …’
The incident has further inflamed tensions between the Labor and independent councillors. Labor councillor Michael Clarke, who raised the initial motion seeking the removal of the parking meters, insists Cr Miles was only punched after “smirking” at traders as they left in disgust over the vote.
“Not by any stretch of the imagination was this okay, and we have to respect the democratic process,” he said. “But when you vote on an issue this emotive it’s not clever to be smiling and smirking at people.”
WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
Cr Miles rejected as “complete rubbish” the suggestion he was smirking or laughing.
“It’s gone from a smile to a smirk to laughing,” he said. “ I take any decision we make at council seriously.”
Cr McDonald said that while the paid parking issue was highly emotive, violence, abuse or intimidation towards councillors could not be condoned.
Municipal Association of Victoria president Bill McArthur said the violence was disappointing.
“Not all ratepayers will agree with all council decisions, but violence or threatening behaviour is unacceptable,” he said.
