‘Idiot’ fine stays

CASEY councillor Paul Richardson will still have to pay a fine to the council after he called the City’s CEO an ‘idiot’ last month.
Despite making a formal apology to CEO Mike Tyler at Tuesday’s council meeting, Cr Richardson will still be ordered to pay a $200 fine after the comment was ruled defamatory.
Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland brought a notice of motion to the council on Tuesday to withdraw the fine as the behaviour did not infringe the council’s meeting procedures local law.
However, the motion was lost.
The move was a turnaround for Cr Morland who seconded the motion to rule Cr Richardson’s comment defamatory at the council meeting on 6 June.
Councillor Rob Wilson said he believed the motion was out of order.
“There is nothing that says an apology takes that ruling away,” he said.
But Cr Morland said Cr Richardson realised his mistake and it was important that the council work as a team.
“We as a council have to make a decision as to whether we accept that apology. I believe it is the bigger man who can do that,” he said.
Mr Tyler said while he did not agree with the wording of Cr Morland’s motion, the comment by Cr Richardson had not upset him as he did not hear it.