Controversial Kempsey councillor Noel Selby is staring down his fellow councillors, refusing to bow to their suggestion he get out of local politics.

Selby was asked to resign during a marathon council meeting in Kempsey today, following allegations of social media misconduct. 

In brief exchanges via text and email, Selby told the Mid North Coaster “I won’t be resigning”. He also said he was taking a holiday and that his phone would be switched off until early November.

The background: In mid-April, an account by the name of “Selby Noel” allegedly made the comment “pity he hadn’t bashed you” to a woman on a post in a Facebook group, triggering complaints to the council.

At the time, Selby told the CEO of Kempsey Shire Council the content had been posted from his social media account without his consent. However, an independent investigation concluded he “did post the comment from his Facebook account”.

The investigator recommended Selby be formally censured by council, as the comment “constitutes harassment” and had the capacity to damage the council’s reputation.

What happened: On Tuesday, in a confidential session of council, councillors resolved to request Selby resign from his council role and recommended he engage with a men's behaviour change program.

Council does not have the power to suspend or sack a councillor. As a result, the matter will be referred to the Office of Local Government, with council requesting the department consider suspending Selby for up to three months.  

More action required: June Wilson, CEO of domestic violence support service Kempsey Families, said the council’s immediate response to the matter was “adequate”, and that there should be “zero tolerance towards abuse, aggression …”.

Mayor comments: “We understand why many people have been upset by this matter,” Mayor Kinne Ring said in a statement.

“As elected representatives, we must uphold the standards our community expects and hold ourselves to the same standards we ask of others. Councillors also wanted to make clear that violence against women is a serious issue across Australia and in our community.”

Not far enough: In the wake of the council decision, one of the people who originally complained about the Selby Noel post told the Mid North Coaster: "I’m a horrified, concerned citizen, outraged that council do not have the power to sack him and that they are only requesting suspension."