The saga over what to do with Newcastle’s Laman Street figs has turned ugly, again.
Last night, councillors voted seven to four against an independent assessment of the figs recommended by the state government.
But when councillors and council staff tried to leave the chamber, they were jostled by angry “Save our Figs” members and their cries of “Shame Shame Shame.”
As a council staff member and a councillor tried to make their way down a hallway, protestor Margaret Henry, who was standing in their way fell to the ground. Police are investigating whether she was assaulted.
Earlier, the Member for Newcastle, Tim Owen asked councillors to take up Premier Barry O’Farrell’s offer of an independent assessment, however it was voted down by seven councillors including Liberals Brad Luke and Mike Jackson.
The vote means council can remove the figs as soon as a court injunction is lifted.
What disgusting behaviour. These protestors complain about the lack of democratic process, then act like uncivilised thugs when things don’t go their way. Shame, shame, shame Save Our Figs.
Why do the protestors all seem to have outfits that include mismatched tracksuits???? Can we change their mission to “save our fashion sense”???
what a shame emotions have got to this point. A Cr feeling so jostled he pushes a 77 year old wman out of the way & doesnt stop to help her up.
dear marcus the only uncivilised thuggish behaviour i saw was newcastle city councillor mike king pushing a 75 year old woman to the ground and not even see if she was ok shame on you mike king
Look again at the footage and you will see Mike King turn to help when he was being held back by protesters making more of a scene. All Mr King was doing was attempting to do was leave the chambers when accosted by many emotional protestors. These same protestors are hypocritical they abuse police at the site of the figs then turn to them during an ugly scuffle that was instigated by them.
In follow up to my previous comment and to in response to Grahame, Mike King was simply trying to leave his work place, it was obvious he did not intend to push that lady over and was a mistake and as Jane said, He turned to see if she was okay and was unable to help her due to SOF people preventing him from being able to move anywehre with out being vverbally and physically assulted. And that woman put herself n that position, she was in there jostling and pushing him as well so she werely receieved what she was giving.
what was that little old man doing there? He is trying to stop the alderman from leaving and it is his fault he fell over. This alderman should be lodging a complaint for assault against the man in the knights jumper and the little old man that fell over
Amazing how Geoff and Jessie are so sure what happened without being there.
I was and I saw.
When someone is shoved to the ground with their head hitting hard, and that person was 77years old and not causing any harm nor obstruction nor abuse then one would think there may be consequences. Anger is no excuse for such behaviour.
I wonder if Geoff and Jessie would be so supportive of such action if it were their grandmother .
And the other real issue, why are 7 council members afraid of proper independent assessment when trying to chop down 14 trees, 1000 years of growth,a million dollar asset, using RTA act normally used against a dangerous tree branch over a road.All improper imho.
This is wrong from the start, and motivated by development plans and protection of personal professional reputations-sue me if I am wrong and let’s get it all out in court. Cook has already said this is what it is about, protecting reputations.
They are afraid because it is, in MPO, misfeasance of public office in failing to proper use funds and proper consideration of actions. A 20,000 independent assessment would have saved 11/2 million dollars rate payer money and a million dollar asset if found safe. That is why they are afraid of it and hiding from it and defying the community.
They should be sacked and the state gov take over the street, get the independent assessment and get on with spending our money properly and openly and effectively.
well sed nick thorough informative piece my friend why doesnt the media pick this up?
Um Nick. I’ll accept that Geoff and Jessie were not there, but the footage doesn’t lie. Have you watched the footage? “not causing any harm nor obstruction nor abuse “. Ms Henry very clear is attempting to cause an obstruction. No she doesn’t deserve to be shoved the ground, but that is an unfair interpretation of what occurred. The man in the Newcastle knights jumper is clearly assaulting at least one of the councillors. She is jumping around behind him and is brushed aside as the scuffle ensues. That’s her fault, not the councillor’s. And despite her claims in the paper that she knocked her head on the skirting board, the footage very clearly shows that she didn’t. How very typical of the Greens though – create a situation in which you are hurt and then look for someone else to blame. It’s also very clear that the councillor starts to move to assist her when he became aware she had fallen, and is physically restrained. Also abundantly clear is that none of the protesters made any move to help her.
Finally, after 4 independent assessments i would expect that this debate would have been exhausted. It hasn’t and neither will a fifth review
I second the statement put forward by redfella. Nick if you were there you would have noticed that the SOFigs people were jostling and preventing the council members from leaving. The elderly lady DID NOT hit her head on the board as clearly seen n the footage AND Mike King does go to help but is prevent by SOFigs people blocking his way and jostling him again.
And in response to how I would act if it was my grandmother, I would of course be concern that she was okay HOWEVER I would also be saying that it is her own fault as she was there under her own decision and her actions we also her decision, he actions lead to the fall happening, it is simply a consequence of her behaviour. Which might I add is disgusting to see. I can’t believe grown adults and older member of our community are acting in a such a way. As a young person I am horrified that this is the example we are given to follow.
I would also like to add Nick that you have made the assumption that I was not there…. how are you to know?
Yes the protestors did prevent the Councillors leaving the Town Hall. Well good on them. I may have done the same.
Ask yourself why are these people doing this? Because they are committed to stopping the trees being cut down. I am with them
Secondly, I have been with these protestors…I am one of them and I have not seen them harass the police. They are for the most part kind , peaceful , community minded people.
Have you ever asked yourselves why this council wants to cut these trees down.?
Well why do so many people want the trees to stay. Because they feel in their hearts there is something not right with the council’s decision. They do not trust the council’s decision. But have the council listened..No they have gone right ahead and done what they want,,,and they have plans for this site.
For goodness sake…people on councils are not always acting in the best interest.. Sometimes they act in their own best interests. Sometimes the little people YES US have their rights trampled.
If they stopped the Councillors from leaving well I would have too.
So Put me in jail too.
To quote Shakespeare…Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”
These trees are not going to fall over anytime soon. But hopefully these councillors will fall over at the next election.!
I am proud to be part of this protest to save the figs.
If only people would think outside the square…outside their set in concrete thinking.
Ask yourself why have people protested against the figs removal.
Why are the opposite camp so determined to get them down.
Why can each side not listen to the other.
Ask another question..Whose interests are being served?
The fig protestors, of whom I am one. This answer is fairly obvious. They want the trees saved. Do they want something for themselves…?
Ask the same question of the council.?
Well they say it is an insurance issue. Well is this the real answer? Or is this smoke and mirrors .
The reason why people want to save trees , especially fig trees is deeper than we probaly realise. Figs have symbolic signifigance. This is part of the reason why people do not want them cut down.However, perhaps this is a level which many of us do not understand.
Strange as it may seem the issues are deep rooted , so to speak.
I will be there when the trees come down, and if any hoons from SOFigs attempt this sort of disorder again, I will use reasonable force to ensure that workers and staff are unharmed. And if that means pushing aside a criminal protester who is assaulting myself or workers hired to do a job, I think that is the least of concern, More likely if I saw the Hoon in the Knights jersey try a stunt like that (or indeed even Ms Henry) I will lock their arm behind there back, take them to the ground and hold them in that position with my knee and body weight on there back untill police arrive. I hope that Protesters do not force my hand, as it will be swift
There are two sides to every story and in this case we are fortunate that this incident was captured on film. This incident is one of many and unfortunately this is the one that has gained the most attention.
Shani said SOF, “Are for most part kind, peaceful, community minded people.” I have no doubt that is true as I believe it to be the same for the NCC Members.
How well do any of you know each other outside the Laman Street Fig Tree Debate?
I have known Cr Mike KIng all of his life. He is a Father, Husband, Son, Brother and Uncle. While he and I may not agree on all issues in this world I can assure you that he is a man of intregrity, dignity, honesty. He did stop and turn to help Ms Henry but was once again jostled and abused by protestors.
I am not trying to make light of the fact that Ms Henry was knocked off her feet and hit her head but Mike King has been abused, accosted, spat on, tyres let down which is the tip of the iceberg and I am sure he is not the only one who has been targeted. I am quite certain the council members who voted to save the trees have not received the same attention.
Will it to take someone getting seriously injured or killed before the nonsense stops???