Mayor quit after ‘attacks’

TASMANIA’S Local Government Minister says he will look into what is happening at the fractured King Island Council following the shock resignation of its new mayor.

Peter Gutwein says he will be liaising further with the Director of Local Government Division and the council on the current circumstances and challenges it is experiencing.

The resignation of David Munday, who cited relentless personal attacks and “undermining” as his reasons for stepping aside, follows other council-focused troubles in the small Bass Strait municipality.

Last year, the island was in danger of losing flights permanently after the council and Regional Express Airlines became involved in a bitter stoush over landing fees at the island’s refurbished airport.

The council was also involved in a legal fight with the island’s only newspaper after it printed an article about the air- port stand-off, which the council claimed defamed the then mayor, schoolteacher Duncan McFie.

A by-election will now be held to fill the role of mayor and councillor with Mr Munday resigning from both roles just four months out from the last local government elections.

Mr Munday secured a solid 500 votes from a population of just 1700 permanent residents, but said in a statement on social media the attacks from a small group of locals had been unbearable.

He said he was resigning with a “heavy heart”.

“I am acutely aware of letting the community down and wish to honestly and openly explain why I have made this decision,” Mr Munday said.

“I am frankly ashamed to disappoint the 500 King Islanders who honoured me with their votes and entrusted the leadership of King Island to me.

“From the start of my may- oral duties in early November last year, I have endured an unending series of attacks instead of support, undermining instead of co-operation, and aggression instead of respect.”

Mr Munday said he had discovered during those short months he was not a “political animal”.

“To the contrary, I felt physically sick each time I received onslaught after onslaught of aggressive negativity and zero support from council staff and certain councillors,” he said.

He said a minority of “aggressive members of this community” had dashed his hopes.

“To maintain both my mental and physical health to ensure I live to see my daughter and adorable grandson grow and prosper, this decision had to be made,” he said.

Mr Munday said he hoped the new mayor would be given the respect the position deserved.

Deputy Mayor Julie Arnold will be acting mayor in the interim.