LATEST: An investigation is under way after a Hume councillor referred to the municipality as the ‘‘terrorist training centre of Australia’’ on a closed social media group.
Cr Jack Medcraft, who made the comments in response to a link about counter terrorism raids in the area earlier this month, has apologised for causing offence but said a serious discussion was needed about terror-related links to Hume.
‘‘Welcome to Hume, the terrorist training centre of Australia,’’ he said on Facebook.
In a reference to a 2003 ban on ham and pork at council functions, Cr Medcraft added: ‘‘First it was ham sandwiches we were known for now this garbage.
‘‘Watch out Sunbury, we could be next.’’
It’s understood the comments have since been deleted.
Related: ‘Witchhunt’ bill mounts, claims Hume councillor
Cr Medcraft last week returned from a 28-day suspension handed down after a probe into his alleged behaviour at a community meeting in Broadmeadows in late 2014.
There have been several alleged terrorist links to Hume this year.
Jake Bilardi, of Craigieburn, and Suhan Rahman, of Roxburgh Park, were reportedly killed fighting overseas for Islamic State, while a 17-year-old was arrested in a counter-terrorism operation in Greenvale on May 8.
Cr Medcraft said he was tired of people ‘‘fobbing off’’ the serious issue of terrorism.
‘‘My comments were tongue in cheek, they weren’t meant with any malice,’’ he said.
‘‘But a lot of people are very worried about what’s going on.
‘‘I’m sick and tired of people looking at Hume for all the wrong reasons.’’
Cr Medcraft said he was disappointed that his comments had sparked a furore while little had been done about another councillor’s reference to Sunbury as a racist community.
Hume council chief executive Domenic Isola confirmed the latest comments were being investigated.
He said the councillors’ code of conduct extended to statements made via social media.
Mr Isola said Hume took enormous pride in the fact that it was one of Australia’s most harmonious and multicultural communities.
‘‘Our residents comes from more than 166 different countries and speak more than 120 languages, and we think that’s one of the best things about Hume,’’ he said.
A spokeswoman for Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins said all types of racial or religious intolerance were unacceptable.
‘‘Every elected representative should behave in a way that reflects their leadership role,’’ she said.
“Whether this matter breaches the City of Hume’s code of conduct is an issue for local councillors.”
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