Satanists, witchcraft and 'religious freedom': councillors clash over church use of theatre

A push to stop ratepayers subsidising worship at a heritage-listed theatre has failed after a heated council debate that veered from religious freedom to Satanists and witchcraft.

Upper Hunter Shire Council voted 6-3 on Monday night to waive hire fees for the Scone Seventh-Day Adventist Church, which will use the Old Court Theatre on Saturday mornings for Bible study and services.

The Scone Community Shed will also get free use on Wednesdays during school terms for upholstery and furniture restoration.

Waiving fees forgoes $194.95 for a full day or $106.35 for a half day, according to the council report.

Cr Peter McGill said he vehemently opposed the motion.

"I see the word theatre.That's my playground, and you're gonna take my playground, and you're gonna destroy it," he said.

"This sort of arrangement will ensure that it can no longer be used as a performing arts venue.

"If you plan on performing a season, you'll be doing shows usually Monday to Saturday, you'll be trying to do a Saturday at matinee, suddenly, the church is sitting in there till 2 o'clock.

"You've just lost your matinee.

"It is a performing arts space, not a space for doing upholstery, and it is certainly not a church."

Cr George Fraser said he could not support free hire for the church, arguing ratepayers' money should not "subsidise religious belief".

"If the local Satanists wish to hire a venue, would they also be looking to have their fees waived so they can conduct their ceremonies?" he asked, before conceding the comparison was mildly offensive and was only meant to show the argument's absurdity.

The councillor proposed an amendment for the church to pay the standard fee, but it lapsed without a seconder.

Cr Tayah Clout questioned singling out one group. "We are either going to charge it, or we're not," she said.

In pressing the point of who would and who would not have to pay, she said: "You could also argue that basket weaving might be some form of witchcraft as well."

Cr Earle Shields was "in dangerous territory", citing what they described as a decades-long "attack on religious freedom" in Australia.

Cr Shields described the church's doctrine as "relatively orthodox", and said charging it would be discriminatory.

Supporters countered that the building had sat underused, with the report noting fewer than six bookings a year over two years.

Cr Shields said the last amateur production he attended was in 2017 or 2018.

Another noted Arts Upper Hunter had recently staged a performance there and planned regional touring.

Councillors Williamson, Shields, McPhee, Collison, Clout and Ryan voted for the motion. Councillors Fraser, McGill and Stiles voted against.

Council joins calls to scrap gun buyback, endorses smart glasses ban

Aside from the theatre debate and the election of Pat Ryan as mayor, the Upper Hunter Shire Council followed other regional counterparts in calling for the federal government to ditch its gun buyback scheme, and endorsed the banning of recording devices, such as smart glasses, from council properties.

The gun buyback motion called for the Labor government to scrap the plan and "start funding the bush" through investment in health and roads.

Cr Troy Stolz said there were "no winners out in the bush" from the policy, and pushed for the motion to go to the next local government conference.

Cr McGill said he understood what guns were about, "they are a tool for people out here in the bush, the place is so full of ferals."

"I have a mate in Mudgee who said he had shot 40 foxes this year alone," he said.

"The other issue that is pretty disturbing, is people who move from the metro to the bush to use properties as shooting ranges. This is something the government needs to target before rural farmers."

Regarding restrictions on smart glasses, Cr McGill said that technology was moving so fast and, with the opening of council pools for school holidays, the motion was timely.

"At the moment, we have no power as we have not told people this was a condition of entry."

Both motions were carried.

Cessnock Council adopts Hunter's first standalone domestic violence plan

Cessnock City Council has unanimously adopted a five-year plan to tackle domestic and family violence, with the emphasis on stopping it before it starts.

The Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Plan 2026-2031 was moved by Cr Mitchell Lea, who told the chamber the issue touched people of "every age", "every background, every postcode".

"Every single one of those numbers is in fact a person," Cr Lea said, citing more than 15,000 reported incidents across the region in a single year, including more than 4200 in the local government area.

He said the plan rested on the four pillars of leadership, support, connection and advocacy.

The plan leans heavily on primary prevention, including challenging harmful attitudes, promoting respectful relationships and education.

It also recognises the need for culturally appropriate engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Cr Lea was candid about the council's limits.

"We can't arrest perpetrators, we can't prosecute offenders. We don't operate crisis accommodation services," he said, but council could lead through advocacy, partnerships and backing the organisations doing the work.

He credited a 2024 mayoral minute for starting the process.

Cessnock's rates of domestic and family violence are about 1.5 times the NSW average, according to the Top Blokes Foundation.

Cr Lea had a message for victim-survivors watching online: "We hear you, we believe you." Perpetrators, he said, were not welcome in the community.

The plan was carried with no further debate.

• Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732.