Mayor Les Sheather and a majority of Councillors have issued a joint declaration, condemning unprovoked attacks against staff and residents.

The Council is particularly concerned about a local publication and social media platforms where unmoderated comments have targeted women and people of diverse nationalities.

In a statement, Mayor Sheather said “enough is enough,” noting that the vitriol—which included the distribution of racist flyers at a recent public event—undermines the city’s culture and economy.

The Council is now moving to develop a formal Anti-Racism Strategy and has warned it will pursue legal channels to protect its workforce from further harassment.