Richo ruled out

By Lia Bichel
A FORMER Casey councillor has been gagged by the council after they ruled his comments vexatious and defamatory “on face value.”
Less than two weeks after council agreed to obtain legal advice on Paul Richardson’s “incorrect and unsubstantial allegations”, council voted to not accept and respond to questions made by him during public question time at meetings.
Mr Richardson has asked 30 questions over 15 council meetings from 18 January to 21 September.
Cr Bob Halsall moved the motion after community members told him they often felt harassed by Mr Richardson.
He said it wasn’t “restricting freedom of speech” but council would not read his questions during public question time, nor would they answer them.
“I had a lot of response from people who feel threatened by him,” Cr Halsall said.
“People who regularly come to council meetings to listen are harassed and newcomers are pounced upon.”
Cr Halsall said Mr Richardson asked the same questions, did not accept the answers and had one agenda in mind.
“We all know he wants the Casey Council sacked. Even when he was on council he wanted that,” Cr Halsall said.
“He has obsessions with it.”
Councillor Lynette Keleher said council should not “take his whole voice away,” while Cr Simon Curtis and Cr Kevin Bradford expressed their concerns about the legality of the motions.
Cr Sam Aziz said he was amazed at the debate.
He said he thought it was time council put a stop to Mr Richardson’s actions.
Mr Richardson, a self-described community watchdog, said he was offended by the comments made in council but would not stop asking questions.
“I have a lot of people congratulating me on what I am doing and they are happy for me to pursue the matter,” he said.
Councillors Keleher, Curtis, Bradford voted against the motion and Cr Wayne Smith was absent from the meeting.