Australia: Councillor is banned from speaking to other staff after questioning council's 'woke' decision to fly the Pride flag

A councillor in Victoria has been banned from speaking to council staff after she objected to a 'woke' move to fly a gay Pride flag permanently at the council's offices.

Susan Bissinger, a councillor in Mornington Peninsula, has also been ordered to complete a personal development course by mayor Steve Holland.

Ms Bissinger, who was elected to the council in 2021, said she felt 'under siege' and that the speaking ban could mean she can't properly represent the community.

'I'm pretty tough, but this is overwhelming,' she told the Mornington Peninsula Leader.

The situation came about after an online exchange between Ms Bissinger, other councillors and staff about a plan to permanently fly the Pride flag at council offices.

The World Pride street rainbow that cost taxpayers $161,500
Ms Bissinger fears that permanently flying the flag - which represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender nonconforming people - would be 'divisive'.

She said in an email that Mornington Peninsula should not be following other 'woke' Melbourne councils in doing so.

This was said to be an example of Ms Bissinger's 'poor behaviour', during external mediation ordered by Mr Holland.

The council's chief executive John Baker also attended the mediation and gave Ms Bissinger a letter saying due to her 'current behaviour' she was not allowed to speak to council staff.

Quoting the Local Government Act, the letter told her only to speak with Mr Baker, the council's chief financial officer and three other department heads.

Ms Bissinger said the nature of the complaints haven't been properly explained to her and that the instructions would make it difficult for her to do work on projects such as a traffic management plan for the area.

In her council ward, she represents the residents of Portsea, Sorrento, Blairgowrie, Rye and Tootgarook.

Julie Collins, of the Sorrento Chamber of Commerce, said Ms Bissinger's situation 'wasn't ideal' but local businesses were told by Mr Baker that the speaking ban wouldn't affect their work with the council.

'We've been told we'll be able to contact the relevant council staff directly,' Ms Collins said.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12649317/Melbourne-Mornington-Peninsula-council-Pride-flag.html

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