‘I was stalked’: Spike in threats to council staff across SA
A local mayor has shared his personal story amid a rise in reports of physical threats, stalking and verbal abuse of council staff and elected members across SA.
Councils and local government representatives across South Australia are reporting an increase in poor behaviour towards council staff and elected members.
At the City of Onkaparinga, increasing harassment incidents have forced some council staff members to use body-worn cameras in public, while the council is using more security guards and has had to call for police assistance.
Speaking with InDaily this week, City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters Mayor Robert Bria said he had personally felt the increase in “incivility” towards council staff and elected members.
Bria, who has held the role of Mayor since 2005, was subjected to stalking and personal threats from a member of the community, requiring police intervention in 2022.
“I was stalked shortly before the election period so I know what it’s like to be at the pointy end of behaviour that’s gone beyond criticism. It’s actually gone to physical intimidation,” Bria said.
“I just think there’s a lack of respect now for elected representatives. At the end of the day, we put our hands up to serve the community, and people see us as sort of punching bags.
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“This isn’t our livelihood. We’re just ordinary people, mums and dads, people living in the suburbs who put their hand up, wanting to do the best for their community, and in doing that there’s very unfair personal attacks.”
He has called for “respectful debate” about community issues without descending into “personal attacks”.
It comes amid reports that Onkaparinga Council has recorded an 18 per cent increase in reported harassment incidents towards its workforce in the past 12 months.
A total of 186 incidents including assaults, targeted graffiti and threats made towards staff have been reported.
City of Onkaparinga CEO Sharon Mason has called on the public to maintain “safe and respectful” interactions with council staff with local government elections looming.
Local government elections have been delayed until April 2027 rather than going ahead in November to prevent a repeat of the state election’s troubles.
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“Council decisions and services should be open to discussion and challenge. At the same time, staff and elected members need to be able to perform their roles without threats, abuse or intimidation,” Mason said.
The City of Onkaparinga employs more than 600 staff members who provide services across community facilities, roads, planning, waste, and customer service functions.
“We encourage community members to raise issues through the appropriate council channels and to engage with staff and elected members respectfully, even where there’s disagreement,” Mason said.
Other SA councils have also reported an increase in cases of staff harassment and bullying in the past couple years.
Campbelltown City Council reported “an increase in racist and harmful comments” being made on its social media platforms in April, while a West Torrens council survey in 2024 found that 58 per cent of workers had experienced forms of aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour in their roles.
Staff members experienced both physical assault and phone, online chat and social media and have included intimidation, verbal abuse, online stalking, and verbal and physical threats.
Local Government Association SA CEO Victoria MacKirdy said that “workers in any South Australian sector, including local government, should be able to do their jobs without being abused, harassed, threatened or assaulted by members of the public”.
“Council workers, as well as elected members and candidates, deserve respectful treatment at all times including as we approach the 2027 council elections in April,” MacKirdy said.
In May, the state government introduced a Workplace Protection Order scheme to protect council staff and retail workers from abuse and harassment from members of the public.
The legislation allows employers, including councils, to apply to the Magistrates Court to prevent individuals who have engaged in personal violence in a workplace from returning to that workplace for up to 12 months.
Breaching an order carries consequences of two years imprisonment or up to five years where the breach involves personal violence.
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