Gemma Johnston on the campaign trail with One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson late last month. Photo: Facebook.
Esperance Shire’s behaviour complaints committee has given Cr Gemma Johnston a rap over the knuckles for breaching its social media policy for elected members.
The committee, which includes most of the elected councillors, met behind closed doors on May 6 to discuss the matter and vote.
The committee decided that Councillor Johnston breached the Shire’s elected member social media policy and required her to follow that policy when referring to herself as a Councillor.
The intent of this policy is to ensure that social media engagement by councillors is thoughtful, well-reasoned and responsible, suited to their professional position and standing in the community and aligns with Council’s adopted policies.
The meeting’s minutes and committee chair Cr Jennifer Obourne did not detail how and when Cr Johnston breached this policy.
Cr Obourne said it was a “challenging conversation” and the first time they had had to do consider such a breach.
“I did find it a valuable exercise to come together as a team and hold each other accountable for the way we are conducting ourselves as community leaders,” she said.
“Social media can be a difficult place to operate in and when we get it wrong we can cause division and other unwanted outcomes.
“But when we get it right social media can be a really powerful tool.
“I look forward to continuing to work together with my colleagues to serve the community to the best of our ability.”
Cr Johnston did not attend the meeting and declined to comment when The Weekender contacted her.
She had taken leave of absence from Council until election day, May 3, to fight the election for the Federal seat of O’Connor as Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party candidate.
Ms Johnston achieved a swing of 4.24 per cent towards One Nation with 11.14 per cent of the primary vote, placing her fourth behind the Liberal, Labor and Nationals candidates.
By contrast, Greens candidate for O’Connor Giz Watson attracted just 9.7 per cent of the primary vote.
