Toorak councillor banned over ‘obscene’ remarks after heated menorah debate

A councillor has been hit with a four-week suspension following a heated debate over installing a Jewish symbol on council land in which he used the words “antisemitic” and “unlawful”.

Stonnington councillor Tom Humphries urged his fellow councillors to support his push to install a menorah at Malvern Town Hall on December 1 last year to mark Hanukkah, which was initially deferred before being approved a week later.

During the discussion in council chambers over whether to defer the decision, Humphries used the terms “grotesque”, “antisemitic”, “unlawful” and “an affront to the Jewish community” – language which was later referenced by arbiter Diana Price, who found he engaged in misconduct.

According to a report tabled in council documents, Price found the comments were directed at people instead of a procedural motion, which Humphries denies. She also ruled his language was used to “bully, intimidate or harangue his colleagues to vote his way”.

“Councillor Humphries was entitled to robustly oppose the motion to defer the notice of motion. He was able to use language that was forceful. However, his statements went well beyond the concept of robust debate in a democracy,” Price found.

She also took aim at Humphries placing the vote on the menorah on the council’s agenda at the “eleventh hour” with what she described as scant detail.

The arbitration was initiated by four councillors – Stonnington Mayor Melina Sehr, Deputy Mayor Samantha Choudhury, and councillors Jami Klisaris and Steve Stefanopoulos – who argued Humphries brought discredit on the council.

According to the report, they argued Humphries’ comments were “baseless accusations” which were “demeaning and obscene and examples of vilification” that were “intended to create a hostile environment, to embarrass his colleagues and to force them into doing what he wanted”.

In addition to his four-week suspension, Humphries is banned from seeking the mayoralty or deputy mayoralty for six months and must apologise to colleagues on his return.

Taking to his “Tom for Toorak” Instagram account, Humphries addressed his “fellow Toorakians” to say that he strongly disagreed with the findings and the characterisations of his actions.

“These comments were made in a political debate in the actual [council] chamber. So if we’re not able to debate it in our agreed-upon political settings, then where else can we have a political debate?” Humphries told The Age , speaking in personal capacity, about his language.

He worried about a “chilling effect” on debate on contentious issues, and said he worries other people may be deterred from running for local government.

“My intent from the outset was to advocate strongly for inclusion, particularly for the Jewish people. This occurred two weeks before the horrific attack at Bondi, and at the time it created quite a lot of unnecessary heartache for the community.”

Toorak ward has been declared vacant on Stonnington Council’s website, and a council spokesperson said Humphries will resume duties on October 13, with Sehr responding to queries from the Toorak ward community in the interim.