Melbourne mayor wins intervention order against Council Watch president over harassment
Stonnington Mayor Melina Sehr was granted a two-year personal safety intervention order against Council Watch president Dean Hurlston on Tuesday morning.
Magistrate Michelle Hodgson found 'the gendered and personal undertones' of Hurlston's social media posts and text messages to Sehr over recent years 'cross the line from fair commentary into targeted ridicule' that he maliciously knew caused mental harm.
'The protections afforded to political discourse do not extend to conduct intended to harm, intimidate or harass under the guise of commentary,' Hodgson said.
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Hodgson cited two posts on Hurlston's now-defunct Stonnington Council Watch Facebook page as examples among an almost 500-page dossier that Sehr presented as evidence that 'the tone, frequency and personal nature of Hurlston's conduct amounted to harassment and stalking'.
The first post accused Sehr of weaponising her mother's death to avoid questions about an alleged conflict of interest. The second post depicted Sehr as Muppets character Miss Piggy and referred to her as Kermit's girlfriend.
'There was ample evidence of ill will, spite and animosity towards Ms Sehr,' Hodgson found.
'This is evident in the derogatory names and images he uses when describing Sehr. The volume of evidence suggests in the exhibit suggested deliberate humiliation – not satire.'
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