Published on 24 November 2023

Keeping Council meetings safe and inclusive

We want members of our community to feel safe and included at our Council meetings so their voices can be heard.

It’s a key part of how we provide good governance for the City and ensure good, transparent decisions are made.

In recent weeks, we’ve seen some heightened security concerns, which have impacted feelings of safety attending Council meetings for our Councillors, staff and community.

To ensure our Council meetings remain safe and inclusive for all who attend, we will put new security measures in place.

We will continue to have security officers at Council meetings as we always do. We will also introduce security screening for people accessing the Public Gallery of the Council Chamber.

In the unlikely event a weapon is found, the person will be refused entry and referred to Victoria Police.

If you attend a Council meeting, please arrive at least five minutes earlier than usual to allow time for the security screening.

This approach aligns with similar security procedures at other public spaces in Victoria such as the Victorian Parliament.

Thank you for your understanding as we continue to make our Council meetings and public spaces safe and inclusive for everyone.