By Jim Mynard
ARALUEN Ward councillor Rob Wilson could face legal action over a pamphlet he issued.
Narre Warren North resident Nigel Bryan said he had taken action against Cr Wilson over the pamphlet.
Mr Bryan said he had a problem with the pamphlet because it had incited people to make abusive phone calls to him.
“I am having the brochure investigated under incitement laws because Cr Wilson put my name and address on the pamphlet and this has caused my family to be exposed to abuse,” he said.
Mr Bryan said he believed Cr Wilson reacted to a letter to the editor he had written.
“I believe he reacted in haste, but he has also placed my family and myself at risk,” he said.
Mr Bryan’s letter was in response to comment in an article in which Cr Wilson said councillors were elected to represent the views of residents and to take those views to the council table.
Mr Bryan said Cr Wilson shot himself in the leg by making the comment.
He said Cr Wilson had not supported residents in their efforts to have Drysdale Avenue, Narre Warren North, completed.
The letter was published in the Berwick News on Thursday 6 October and Cr Wilson quickly issued a brochure headed Why? Nigel, Why?
Cr Wilson said there was no issue with wording on the pamphlet because it was well known that the council had for years been trying to have the road built.
Cr Wilson said in the brochure: “It is time residents asked Nigel Bryan of (ADDRESS) why he has single handedly hindered the council from being able to deliver Drysdale Avenue as one single road network, instead of the mish mash that residents now have to endure and the danger of getting on to BelgraveHallam Road. Council and ward councillor Rob Wilson have been attempting for many years to acquire the piece of property to complete the Drysdale Avenue road link and one property owner has attempted to gain substantial extra money from the council in the process at the cost of local residents.”
Mr Bryan said the issue for him was that the pamphlet revealed his private address.
“Clearly, no thought was given to the serious ramifications of his advice to the residents in authorising, printing, and delivering a campaign document containing my name, address and false information,” Mr Bryan said.
“The result of Cr Wilson’s leaflet was that I received two abusive anonymous phone calls.
“I have instructed my solicitor to proceed with legal action against Wilson.
“I will also forward the leaflet to the police, the Victorian Electoral Commission and the Minister for Local Government to assess whether the campaign document contains a breach of any Act.”
Mr Bryan said he was in a position to prove that Cr Wilson’s accusations that he hindered the process were not true.