Councillor faces police interview after comment to Newcastle lord mayor
Police questioned Councillor Siobhan Isherwood after she told the lord mayor his comment about a legal challenge was misunderstood.
Police were called after a heated exchange between Newcastle councillor Siobhan Isherwood and lord mayor Gavin Morris during a break in Tuesday's council meeting. The council had voted to ban all Rising Tide activities on council-owned land.
Cr Isherwood told the lord mayor "you don't know what's coming down the pike", referring to a likely legal challenge to the ban. Lord mayor Morris interpreted this as a threat and reported it to police.
Cr Isherwood apologised for the misunderstanding and said no threat was intended. Morris told the Herald he would not pursue charges unless more serious threats are made.
It is the second time the lord mayor has involved police since moving to ban Rising Tide.
- Siobhan Isherwood
- Councillor involved
- Gavin Morris
- Lord Mayor involved
- legal challenge to the ban
- Reference in comment
Why it mattersIt shows how tense the Rising Tide debate has become in Newcastle, with councillors and the public clashing over the ban.
AustraliaNewcastle residents are divided over whether banning climate activist group Rising Tide from council land overreaches local government power.
