Gosnells councillor Glenn Dewhurst wants conditions to be imposed on the use of council property for protests.
It comes after about 100 people held a demonstration in the Gosnells town centre about the current situation in Gaza.
“Two weeks ago, we were pushed into a position where our staff had nowhere to go because we did not have a policy on the protest that was going to occur,” he said.
“I’ve just tried to fill that void in developing such a policy.
“This is about freedom of speech and I am not going to stand here and have people objecting.”
He said he asked a KC in court if the council did not have a law for this how would people behave.
“He said you can’t behave like the three wise monkeys, you can’t put your hands over your eyes to ignore it, you can’t put your hands over your ears to ignore it, you can’t put your hand over your mouth,” he said.
“The fact is there is a risk when you are going to hold such protests, and the risk has been raised and we have chosen to ignore it.”
He said anyone in court would be picked to pieces over this.
He said the council should be looking at mitigating the risks involved in protests on council property and the council needed to cover itself.
He said If people were going to come and protest in the city, he would like to see some controls put on that to safeguard residents and the city.
The last protest cost the city $1600, he said.
“Why should our ratepayers have to pay out for the majority of people who don’t live in our city” he said.
“This is not about being divisive in our community, this is about protecting ratepayers, our councillors and particularly our CEO.”
Cr Serena Williamson said the policy’s 12 conditions would impose restrictions on residents and it would be better to seek legal advice on the policy.
Cr Dewhurst’s proposed motion was defeated and mayor Terresa Lynes suggested the local law be changed and legal opinion be sought to allow protests in the city.
