Cessnock Mayor condemns assault of council worker

Cessnock Mayor Daniel Watton and the Cessnock City Council have condemned the assault of a staff member while performing duties on Wine Country Drive. The incident occurred while the worker was mowing and collecting rubbish.

Mayor Watton criticized the rising trend of “indiscriminate council-bashing,” stating that while scrutiny and disagreement are part of public life, harassment and intimidation are unacceptable. He emphasized that staff should be able to work without being subjected to abuse or used as social media content.

The council issued a statement asserting that such behavior will not be tolerated and that all employees have the right to feel safe in the workplace. The council has encouraged the community to report any violence or harassment to the police.