An defiant Pride March post in February from Cr Robbie Nyaguy that offended two other councillors has resulted in Cr Nyaguy being forced to make a humiliating apology at council and on social media.
Fellow councillors Cr Andrew Bond and Cr Christina Sikaroff were named in the February post that contained crucial inaccuracies and some colorful negative references.
Crs Bond and Sikaroff used the Local Government Act to request Arbitration on the matter after Cr Nyaguy refused their requests to delete the posts and withdraw the statements.
After a lengthy process, the arbiter ruled that Cr Nyaguy should make a public apology at council and post the apology on the original social media sites.
The apology was made at Council Wednesday 17 July (as the last item before closing to the public for confidential matters).
You can listen to the apology in the Council recording at approx 2.53 minutes
Cr Nyaguy’s apology text in full
“Firstly, can I thank the arbiter and Council staff for their support and professionalism throughout this process.
This has been an extremely distressing process to go through and I appreciate their work.
I always try to give voice to the concerns and passions of our community.
The events of last year deeply upset many in the queer community and my social media post was an attempt to give them voice.
It was never my intention to be abusive, disrespectful or misleading but unfortunately that is what has occurred in this social media post.
I am deeply sorry for the distress caused to Cr Bond and Sirakoff.
I should have held myself to a higher standard and it makes me sick that my post used words that were abusive and disrespectful.
I am sorry.
I should not have misled the public as to their views on the Action Plan.
I should have said they did not vote for the Action Plan as they did not vote against it.
I also should have acknowledged when they did support the Action Plan.
I am sorry.
I must finally apologise to Cr Sirakoff for causing her great distress by the linking of the decision to cancel the drag storytime event with actions taken by Neo-Nazis.
There are some other parts of this report which I think are incorrect but, in these findings, I have no disagreement and give my sincere apology.
Finally, I must say that I am sorry that I have, through this social media post, become a part of the increasingly toxic culture among Councillors at Port Phillip.
I abhor misconduct and will work every day to ensure that my failure here is never repeated.
Unfortunately, after an incident earlier today, this toxic culture has risen to a level that makes me no longer feel safe in this work environment.
I will be taking a leave of absence, effective immediately, until a previously agreed mediation session has occurred between Councillors.“
Read the complete report from the arbiter (extracted from the Council minutes)
See the report on the ‘agreed mediation session’
