Liberal candidate Simon Behrakis forced to apologise over failing to ‘show respect’ – ABC News

Hobart alderman Simon Behrakis has been ordered to apologise to the council and Lord Mayor Anna Reynoldsafter a code of conduct investigation found he failed to show respect and brought the council into disrepute.

Mr Behrakis may soon become one of Tasmania's newest members of parliament, with a second Liberal seat in the Hobart-based electorate of Clark likely when preferences are distributed next Tuesday,which would be taken up by either him or fellowLiberal Madeleine Ogilvie.

Last November, MsReynolds lodged a comprehensive complaint over media releases and Facebook posts made by MrBehrakis between May and September.

Ms Reynolds alleged that the posts were designed to damage her professional reputation.

The Code of Conduct report has now been sent back to the council, with the panel partially upholding the complaint.

ABC News: David Hudspeth

In it, the panel determined that a media release published by MrBehrakis in May last year, titled 'Anna Reynolds pulling 'favours for mates' on Mac Point?'implied wrongdoing by using the phrase 'favours for mates' in a political context.

It said MrBehrakis was unable to give a good reason for using the phrase.

The panel found that its use was unfair, offensive and embarrassing to MsReynolds, and potentially undermined the decisions of the council and brought it into disrepute.

"Alderman Behrakis failed to show respect when expressing his personal views," the panel's report said.

Mr Behrakis was found to have failed to show respect and inaccurately represented a council decision in a Facebook post about the council's process for hiring a new general manager in October last year.

A post about North Hobart parking from late September was also found to be in breach of the code by selectively quoting MsReynolds, resulting in her being treated unfairly and causing her offence and embarrassment.

The panel dismissed a complaint that images of MsReynolds altered by MrBehrakis were in breach of the Code of Conduct.

The panel concluded that discourse between political opponents may be strongly worded, but publishing misleading material was not acceptable.

"What the panel does not find acceptable is the publication of false and misleading material, or the selective quotation or manipulation of words, or the misrepresentation of events, which may prove damaging to other elected members or to the council," the report said.

It said failing to monitor a Facebook page because it would be time-consuming was not a reasonable defence.

In the lead-up to the Tasmanian election, ABC Hobart visual journalist Luke Bowden went behind the scenes with the major party leaders.

The panel has cautioned MrBehrakis and ordered him to apologise to MsReynolds for causing her offence and embarrassment, and to the council for undermining its decisions and bringing it into disrepute.

Ms Reynolds said she decided to submit the Code of Conduct complaint after exhausting all other available options, and welcomed the outcome of the panel.

"I don't shy away from robust debate focused on policy, but basic respect is essential and personal attacks are never OK.

"The community expects us to maintain standards of civility and call out unacceptable behaviour when we see it this is what I did," she said.

"The panel's decision confirms my own opinion that a number of Alderman Behrakis's posts crossed the line of what is acceptable as they were misleading, untruthful and encouraged people to make abusive comments.

"My experience as the target of abusive comments is, unfortunately, not unique. It's an experience shared by almost every woman, right across the political spectrum.

"Unless we can change that unless we can create spaces where everyone is able to share their opinion without being subject to bullying or harassment politics will never attract the diversity of representation it so badly needs."

In a statement MrBehrakis said the determination is "disappointing, yet unsurprising".

He warned that the panel's response sets a "dangerous precedence for political discourse".

Mr Behrakis said he would not be appealing the decision.

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Liberal candidate Simon Behrakis forced to apologise over failing to 'show respect' - ABC News