Councillors At Daggers Drawn:

From the Illawarra Mercury: The inference is that the anonymous cartoonist in this case is reasonably skilled. If he stays anonymous I wonder if we'll see the power of the satirical cartoon used increasingly in gutter politics?

By ANTONY FIELD
February 28, 2004

"THE investigation into defamatory and offensive cartoons aimed at Wollongong City Council widened yesterday when a second councillor laid a complaint with police.

The political cartoons, alleging corruption and sexual impropriety, have been circulated widely
among some councillors, the media and businesspeople.

One councillor informed Wollongong police after receiving the cartoons in the mail and detectives are trying to fingerprint the documents in an attempt to discover the source.

Chief Inspector Mark Lavers of Wollongong police confirmed a second councillor had received the cartoons and handed them to police yesterday.

It is understood a third councillor, one of the subjects of the cartoons, will make a complaint to police today. Details of the cartoons cannot be revealed because of their defamatory nature."

The highly controversial drawings, which feature the council's general manager Rod Oxley and four councillors, have also been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) by Mr Oxley.

Lawyers had advised him to contact police and ICAC.

Chief Insp Lavers said police were liaising with ICAC about the complaints and there was still a question over whether it was a civil or criminal matter.

"It is a criminal offence to send offensive material electronically or through the mail, but as for defamation that would be a civil matter," he said.

Few councillors were prepared to comment, but those who did treated the cartoons with contempt.

One councillor said it was deplorable and gutter tactics.

"It is personal, nasty and hurtful and I hope the offenders are found and properly charged," the councillor said.

Another said it was the worst example of gutter politics they had seen and hoped police would take strong action to prevent it happening again.

A third was disgusted Illawarra politics had reached an all-time low. "It indicates certain wannabe councillors ... have absolutely no concept of how to deal with city issues."

Wollongong businesspeople were also shocked by the cartoons and condemned those responsible.

A number of prominent city identities, including lawyer Mark McDonald, real estate agency owner Mark Luchetti and Illawarra Business Chamber members received the cartoons in envelopes marked private and confidential.

They do not have any connection with the contents of the cartoons.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Oxley strenuously denied he had improperly used his position to "advantage certain people and that, as a consequence, I have received personal financial gain from such actions".

He said the "scurrilous and unfounded allegations" not only cast doubt on his honesty and integrity, but also cast a significant shadow over the process of government and the development industry in Wollongong.

IBC chief executive officer Tim Lewis said the chamber resented the kind of cowardly slur contained in the cartoons.

"It's not just on Mr Oxley but, from our perspective, it's a slur on the business community. The inference is that developers are paying kickbacks," he said.

"If people have accusations they should step up to the plate and make them. They should have the moral fortitude to go through the appropriate channels."

He said if the claims were not substantiated, those who had been slandered should look at their legal options.

Mr McDonald said the cartoons were pathetic and reflected more on those who produced them. The drawings entrenched a negative image that had shrouded Wollongong for too long, he said.

Mr Luchetti said he was so put out by the cartoons he rang Mr Oxley and Lord Mayor Alex Darling to inform them.

"I think it's a disgrace. (The author) obviously feels they can't win through the normal election process ... I'll give them one thing - they're not bad at drawing."

An ICAC spokesman said he could not confirm he had received a complaint about the cartoons, but it could arrive today.

"We assess every complaint that's referred to us. It depends on the nature and the seriousness of the complaint as to how we deal with it. Some matters may not be in our jurisdiction and could be referred to the Department of Local Government or the NSW Ombudsman," he said.

ICAC last week warned election candidates not to use the organisation in political attacks on their opponents, by exploiting the complaints process.

Posted by at February 29, 2004 9:33 PM | TrackBack