EUREKA rebellion descendent Paul Murphy put on an show last Thursday as he successfully disrupted Brimbank City Council’s budget meeting.
The Sunshine-bred and born man, who is a film director by profession, said he could not believe the councillors’ rudeness towards the community.
Mr Murphy turned up to his first council meeting to “observe”, but halfway through the meeting was asked to leave because of his constant disruptions as he called on the councillors to save the Sunshine outdoor pool from demolishment.
“To change laws you have to be disobedient,” he said. “I did my own piece to upset the council so they can see that they don’t own those council offices – we do.”
Brimbank mayor Natalie Suleyman warned Mr Murphy then fined him $100 for disrupting the meeting.
Mr Murphy, who then pulled out a $100 note from his wallet, walked up from the gallery and approached Cr Suleyman, putting the money in her water glass.
Laughter emerged from the gallery and Cr Suleyman threatened the public with suspending the meeting. Mr Murphy then returned and collected his money.
“By that stage I realised they were going to ring the police,” he said. “As soon as police arrived I said to them that I’m the one that’s disrupting the meeting and I explained the situation to them.
“I think the people in the community understood that the council needed to get a whack in the nose verbally with that act to make them realise that they couldn’t get away with it.”
Ken Mooney from Sunshine, who was also fined last Tuesday during the council’s ordinary meeting, said he would not pay his $100 fine.
He was also warned for yelling out when the council decided to pull the plug on the Sunshine Swim and Leisure centre project.
Susan Horwood decided to pay her $100 fine when she was fined a month ago because she did not want to be prohibited from attending council meetings.
“I paid my fine under duress. I want the council to be accountable for what they do. If that means that I’ve got to yell out, then I’ll do it,” Ms Horwood said.
