Barefoot Law founder and mayoral candidate Mark Swivel, is hosting an event regarding ‘AVOs, harassment, abuse and violence’, to be held June 17 from 6pm at the Byron Community Centre Cavanbah Room.
The panel includes Sarah Ndiaye, Deputy Mayor, who has taken an AVO out against Council agitator John Anderson, aka Fast Buck$, over what she says is constant harassment and intimidation.
Mr Anderson, who said he was not invited to the forum, told The Echo he will be contesting the AVO, and says it is not likely to be heard before the courts until next year.
Meanwhile, the forum on ‘community standards of behaviour’ will also feature consultant psychologist, Jane Enter, lawyer and former magistrate David Heilpern, general practitioner, Dr Tonya Coren, and social worker, Jenelle Bowen.
Low public awareness
A statement on social media reads, ‘Byron Shire needs to talk. After the March for Justice, what [is] next?’
‘Women experience a continuum of harassment, abuse and violence. But public awareness remains low.
‘An AVO was recently issued by police to protect a councillor. A public debate followed. What lessons can we learn as a community from all this?
‘Join local experts to lead a discussion on how we can raise community standards’.
Mr Anderson said, ‘Councillors and staff don’t like my questions. It started over questions to Cr Ndiaye on holiday letting, and it has become a personal trial of my character’.
He says he is engaging a barrister to defend himself.
Great idea, since the cops are useless when it comes to online abuse.