Reports of abusive and aggressive behaviour towards council staff had increased since 2024, with some workers subjected to threats of violence while doing their jobs.
Noosa Council CEO Larry Sengstock addressed the issue as the council promoted its ‘kindness and respect’ message.
“We have a wonderful, caring community in Noosa and most interactions with our council staff are respectful, constructive and positive, however we have experienced a number of incidents where staff have been subjected to unacceptable behaviours,” he said.
“In some instances, where our staff are out and about in the community, they’ve been on the receiving end of abuse and even threats of violence.
“This aggressive, unacceptable behaviour is disturbing.”
Mr Sengstock also spoke about the way disagreements with council could be handled.
“We understand that councils are a target for strong views and respectful conversations help us better identify the issues and solutions,” he said.
“Our council staff strive to serve with respect, empathy and professionalism, and we encourage the same spirit of respect in return.”
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The mayor and councillors supported the council’s kindness and respect message, Mr Sengstock said.
“Many of our staff live locally and are part of the community. We all care about helping to make Noosa a great place to live, work and visit.”
