By Parker McKenzie
For the second time this year, Yarra Ranges Council closed its doors to the public gallery during a council meeting.
On Tuesday 11 April, Mayor Jim Child closed the meeting to those in attendance after members of the community started filming the meeting from the gallery.
“In accordance with rule 75 of the governance rule, there will be no filming from the gallery without consent of the chair,” he said.
“I do not give that consent. The gallery will be asked to stop filming if necessary.”
In Yarra Ranges Council’s governance rules, adopted in August 2022, a person “must not operate film, photographic, tape-recording or other equipment to reproduce sound and/or images at any meeting without first obtaining the consent of the Chair.”
After a Welcome to Country, Mayor Child asked the members of the gallery to return to their seats.
“We don’t want to be recorded either, in the Yarra Ranges, anywhere,” an attendee said.
“if that’s the way you want it in the gallery, please exit the gallery, that’s the best way of doing it,” Mayor Child said.
“You’re being filmed here tonight whether you like it or not.”
After further interjection from the gallery, Mayor Child told attendees “sorry you will not be filming us.”
“You can’t do that, you’re a public figure we aren’t,” another attendee said.
“I will adjourn this meeting if it is continually interrupted,” Mayor Child said to jeers.
The meeting was adjourned immediately after, before being recommenced around 40 minutes later without the public gallery.
Organised by fringe-community group My Place, those in attendance have taken issue with Yarra Ranges Council adopting 20-minute neighbourhood principles within urban design frameworks for Monbulk and Warburton and have started protesting at council meetings.
In January, the Star Mail reported on another council meeting being adjourned after interruption from the gallery, which resulted in police being called to the building after those in attendance refused to leave after the meeting was adjourned.
