Council pledges support to lift the tone of debate
Posted on September 23, 2025
Council pledges support to lift the tone of debate
23 September 2025
Northern Midlands Council voted to pass a motion fully endorse the principles and objectives of the Lift the Tone campaign and commit to supporting the following actions:
• Public Endorsement: Actively promoting the campaign’s objectives through Council’s communication channels, including media releases, the Council website, and community forums.
• Awareness and Education: Supporting community education initiatives that highlight the importance of respectful, constructive dialogue and the negative impacts of abusive behaviour.
• Mental Health Support: Continuing to prioritise staff and elected member wellbeing by strengthening internal support structures and enhancing access to professional mental health resources for those experiencing harassment or stress in their roles.
• Policy Reinforcement: Reviewing and reinforcing guidelines and policies on public participation at Council meetings and on Council-managed social media platforms to ensure civility and respect are consistently maintained at the September 15th 2025 council meeting.
Recent data collected by the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) has revealed that almost 80% of surveyed elected representatives have experienced abuse or intimidation from community members in the past two years. The most common settings for this kind of toxic behaviour were identified as social media (47%) and public spaces (37%).
Northern Midlands Council Mayor Mary Knowles OAM said “Robust debate is healthy and necessary in a democracy, but abuse and intimidation are not. By endorsing the Lift the Tone campaign, we are saying loud and clear that respect matters. We want everyone—councillors, staff and community members—to feel safe to participate in local government without fear or hostility.”
By passing this motion the Northern Midlands Council reaffirms its commitment to combating abuse and fostering a positive, constructive environment for public and political discourse within our community.
Further information on the motion and the campaign can be found on the council’s website www.northernmidlands.tas.gov.au or www.lgat.tas.gov.au/lgat-advocacy/lift-the-tone