A new campaign has launched in Tasmania to confront a disturbing rise in abuse and intimidation targeting local government elected representatives.
Driven by the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) in partnership with mental health professionals, the campaign aims to promote civility in public discourse and highlight the real impacts of harassment on councillors and their families.
A recent LGAT survey revealed that nearly 80 per cent of surveyed elected representatives across Tasmania have experienced some form of abuse or intimidation from the public in the past two years.
LGAT Vice President Mayor Paula Wriedt said the survey showed the majority of councillors had been subjected to mistreatment, with online platforms and public spaces being the most common settings.
“The most common settings were social media (47.3 per cent) and public spaces (36.8 per cent),” Cr Wriedt said.
“This behaviour has serious impacts on both mental and physical health, not only for elected representatives but also for their families.”
Survey respondents reported confronting incidents including trespassing, death threats requiring home security upgrades, public verbal assaults, harassment while accompanied by family members, and acts of intimidation such as nails left in driveways.
“This behaviour is unacceptable and needs to stop,” Cr Wriedt said.
Clinical psychologist Dr Emma Richardson, from Well Minds Work, says bullying and intimidation can have serious health risks.
“Bullying increases the risk of experiencing anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, low self-worth and illnesses such as cardiovascular disease,” she said.
“It can lead to significant social isolation and feelings of being unsafe, negatively impacting those who witness it and increasing the risk of anxiety and depression in the family and friends of those who are bullied.”
Tasmania’s Minister for Local Government, Kerry Vincent, urged the community to support respectful engagement and uphold standards that enable councillors to work safely and effectively.
“Elected representatives play an important role in shaping our local communities and everyone has the right to work without hostility,” Vincent said.
“Respect is a two-way street, and my expectation is the community and their elected officials treat each other with professionalism and kindness.”
“We can disagree without disrespect, and I want to remove any deterrent for good people to stand for election,” he added.
The campaign will run across social media, digital platforms and through Tasmanian councils.
