Dean Hurlston wins appeal against eastern Melbourne mayor Melina Sehr intervention order

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Share A A A A self-styled council watchdog has won an appeal against an intervention order granted to an inner-eastern Melbourne mayor after a judge ruled his social media posts, including one depicting her as Miss Piggy, were protected political speech.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston hailed the County Court judgment released late on Friday as a win for democratic scrutiny of elected officials, as it overturned the court order Stonnington Mayor Melina Sehr was granted last year.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston (left) and Stonnington Mayor Melina Sehr. Simon Schluter, Luis Enrique Ascui Magistrate Michelle Hodgson previously found “the gendered and personal undertones” of Hurlston’s posts and text messages to Sehr in recent years “crossed the line from fair commentary into targeted ridicule” that was intended to cause mental harm.