A councillor has livestreamed her own removal by police from a meeting in northern NSW in a disruption that lasted for more than 40 minutes.
Police were called to the council meeting in Moree last week when councillor Kelly James refused to stop livestreaming or leave the chamber.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Moree councillor live-streams police removal from meeting
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James was livestreaming the meeting on Facebook when she was asked to stop because it breached Moree Plains Shire Council’s Code of Meeting Practice.
James — who has now been expelled from a council meeting five times this year — then alleged she was filming to prevent the meeting minutes from “changing”.
“I am doing it for my own protection, every time I leave this meeting the contents of the minutes change,” she claimed in the livestream.
Council then voted to expel James from the chamber and had to adjourn the meeting for about 40 minutes when she refused to leave.
James panned the camera towards a security guard who had been hired for the meeting as she said: “I am telling you now bud, if you touch me you will be hurt, so don’t.
“So, this guy is coming to kick me out, he is going to manhandle me and he will get a kick in the jaw, too.
“I am sick of this and you know yourself the minutes get altered because it has been done several times and I have proof, and I am sick of providing proof.”
Be the first to know: Add 7NEWS as your preferred news source on GoogleMoree Plains Shire Councillor Kelly James was livestreaming during a council meeting. Credit: FacebookJames continued to livestream as she was escorted out by police. Credit: Facebook
About 20 minutes later police arrived at the council chambers, with James telling officers: ‘’Them calling you to come remove me was already orchestrated before I got out of bed this morning.”
After being asked to leave again she directed her complaints towards Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig, saying on the livestream: “If I don’t leave I am going to be arrested, and that is your policy and your b*******.”
James was then directed to leave, saying in the livestream: “I can return at the next meeting which is next Wednesday, when we hire the GM (general manager) but you know what, they will kick me out of that f****** thing too.”
She then recorded herself walking out of the chambers, with a police officer walking closely behind.
“I am a female 5 foot tall, it must be f****** scary, so the police are going to escort me downstairs,” she said.
“Are you watching this minister? Are you paying attention to the s*** you f****** caused?”
James continued the livestream until she left the building onto Balo St.
“I began filming because a security guard was already present,” James later told 7NEWS.
“Given previous experiences and concerns about the accuracy of meeting records, I wanted my own record from the outset.
“I was concerned my removal may have been anticipated. Council should explain who authorised security, why it was considered necessary and what it cost ratepayers.
“I did not leave because I disputed the grounds for my removal and believed the rules were being applied inconsistently.
“I told the security guard not to touch me. When I remained, staff were directed to call the police, who attended.”
James said she ‘began filming because a security guard was already present’. Credit: Facebook
Moree Plains Shire Council confirmed to 7NEWS that James was removed from the October 15 ordinary meeting “after refusing to make an unreserved apology for comments that were determined to impute an improper motive to council staff”.
“Immediately prior to being expelled, Cr James had been directed to cease livestreaming the meeting in contravention of council’s Code of Meeting Practice,” the council said.
“The disruption delayed council business for approximately 45 minutes.
“A security guard was engaged to protect the health and safety of council staff, councillors, and attending members of the public. The cost of security services was $55 per hour.”
Council noted draft minutes of each meeting are presented to the subsequent meeting when, if councillors identify any inaccuracies, council may resolve to amend the minutes to ensure a true and accurate record of proceedings on the public record.
It said this process is carried out in open council and is therefore open to public scrutiny.
Council also told 7NEWS this was the fifth time James has been expelled this year. She has also been censured twice in 2026.
‘Inconsistent treatment’
However, James claimed there was inconsistent treatment of councillors, citing an example of another councillor being allowed to speak without raising her hand and claiming she herself is made to wait and is then limited to one question.
“The incidents involved rulings about speaking over the chair and disputes about meeting procedure,” she said.
“I have challenged what I consider inconsistent treatment.”
Asked if she stood by her actions or considered it professional, James told 7NEWS: “I would not describe every response made in frustration as professional.
“I accept scrutiny of my language and conduct and expect the same standard to apply to everyone involved.”
The Office of Local Government told 7NEWS being a councillor is a privilege “and there is no place for conduct that undermines the proper functioning of a council or diminishes public confidence in local government”.
“All councillors are expected to uphold the high standards rightly expected of them by the community and demonstrate the decorum befitting their civic office.”
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