Cr Benedict Ong, who has been a prolific user of Facebook since his election campaign last year, was recently told his account had limited access ‘‘for security reasons’’.
‘‘My Facebook public page is still duct-taped for a month,’’ Cr Ong told the Otago Daily Times in an email yesterday.
He claimed politics was behind the move.
Cr Ong’s access to the Civic Centre was changed in February when Dunedin City Council chief executive Sandy Graham said she needed to put temporary measures in place to ensure a safe work space for staff.
Cr Ong disputed this and he posted on social media a video of himself with duct tape over his mouth.
In his email yesterday, Cr Ong said he had now paid for Meta’s Facebook premium subscription of almost $150 a month ‘‘simply to communicate with a human agent to try to get this wrongful restriction ... removed’’.
Meta asked him to ‘‘kindly wait patiently’’ for the restriction to be lifted.
‘‘I am considering paying for Meta's $499.99/month Max plan simply as a last resort to be able to speak to a human agent,’’ Cr Ong said.
He disclosed to the ODT his communication with Meta support.
‘‘The action of the complainant who put this forward has affected my time and our community in being unable to hear my messaging via the crucial service of Facebook in my role of public service and politician,’’ Cr Ong said.
Meta said the page was restricted ‘‘due to copyright issues’’.
Cr Ong replied: ‘‘That does not appear right, as it means someone who wants to take wrongful action to restrict my public service communications to our community can do so without [justification] and disrupt what I do.’’
Cr Ong is expected to make a presentation to the council about his ideas relating to financing of debt.
He confirmed he expected to talk with the chief executive, chief financial officer and finance team before the public presentation.
‘‘I am happy to provide a summary in advance,’’ he said.
Cr Ong was last month asked by his colleagues to consider resigning after he breached the council’s code of conduct.
He refused to do so.
Cr Ong has had a troubled start to the term as a new councillor, including being ejected from a meeting last month and sometimes struggling with the way meetings are run.
The Department of Internal Affairs said it was aware of the situation and would update the minister of local government as required.
‘‘Ultimately, councillors are democratically accountable to their communities, and voters make decisions about who should represent them.’’
