Pressure is mounting on Lake Macquarie Council after their refusal to remove portraits of convicted sex offenders from the council chamber.
At the end of last year, the council decided on a gag order for a confidential meeting regarding whether or not portraits of councillors convicted of sex offences should stay hanging or on council asset plaques.
It's understood a majority of councillors voted down the motion to remove all photographs and plaques of disgraced former Mayor Douglas Carley and councillor turned state MP Milton Orkopoulos.
Liberal Councillor Cr Kevin Baker along with Cr Jason Pauling and Cr Nick Jones opposed the notice of motion to keep the matter confidential - but can't comment any further on the specifics due to the gag effect imposed by the Mayor and a majority of Councillors.
The councillor is absolutely baffled as to why council think it's okay to keep the portraits hanging where they are because it sends the completely wrong message to sex offenders.
"I feel that there's no place in our city where these photos should hang but especially in positions of pride. I think it's abhorrent that these photos remain in these positions of honour and I think it sends a really bad message for victims of abuse that we continue to display these images of people who have committed these horrible crimes," said Cr Kevin Baker.
"We feel that Lake Macquarie city council needs to have more transparency around this and other matters and it's the only way to really service community interest best. The mayor even speaks about transparency in government in a little speech at the start of every meeting and I think it's about time that Lake Macquarie council starts walking the talk in regards to transparency"
The council say they're not going to make any hasty decision now, with Mayor Kay Fraser reportedly backing the decision for historical purposes.
Tony Phiske, a social worker from the Survivors and Mates Support Network says the portraits are confronting for abuse survivors and with all of the attention brought to child sex offences through the Royal Commission he can't believe the photographs and portraits are still in the public eye.
"A lot of people are taking on board what has impacted them over a large number of years, and for them to be confronted with something like a portrait that hasn't been removed it can very much be a slap in the face."
