Cr Rose Wanchap has bought yet another advertisement in the Byron Shire Echo, this time with a half-baked apology to Mr Jim Beatson, the victim of her recent double shoe-throwing tantrum, in an attempt to justify her actions.
Damage control and yet more spin.
The advertisement seems to me to be as sincere as her pre-election video (available on YouTube) during which she espouses Green ideals and expresses a wish to emulate Bob Brown.
This follows Cr Wanchap’s celebration of her shoe-throwing act on television stations including re-enacting the incident whilst claiming to be the poor, frustrated victim of hecklers. Heckling hardly justifies an assault.
A councillor throwing shoes at citizens in the council chamber clearly constitutes a breach of the Local Government Act’s Code of Conduct.
What is the mayor and/or the council’s general manager doing about this incident? Anything?
Why wasn’t the meeting adjourned, the gallery cleared, the culprit reprimanded and disciplinary action taken?
I wonder what would have happened if the shoes were on the other feet? If Mr Beatson had thrown his shoes at Cr Wanchap I’m quite sure the police would have been called and Mr Beatson likely charged with assault.
Philip Shine, Byron Bay
