PORT Stephens Mayor Bruce MacKenzie has declared that future of a women’s refuge in Raymond Terrace named after him is “bigger than Bruce MacKenzie”.
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The Port Stephens councillor says he will remove his name from the new domestic violence refuge following uproar over his admission of the assault of a partner in 1997.
Port Stephens Council resolved last week to officially name the unit, which is yet to be complete, The Bruce MacKenzie Centre for Victims of Domestic Violence.
However the move has drawn widespread condemnation due to the fact Cr MacKenzie appeared before Raymond Terrace Local Court in November 1997 charged with assaulting his de facto partner.
He pleaded guilty and was ordered to enter into a 12-month good behaviour bond. The magistrate found the offence proved but did not record a conviction.
“Forget the name, the name’s gone,” he said.
“I don’t want to jeopardise the future of the unit . It’s bigger than Bruce MacKenzie.”
Cr MacKenzie said that the establishment of the short-term crisis accommodation centre in Raymond Terrace had been a long-term personal passion of his.
“It’s been in the pipeline for 12 months but I’ve had the idea for years,” he said.
“It’s been left to local government to get it done: federal government’s done nothing, state government’s done nothing.
“And if I’m still around next year after council amalgamations, I’m going to look into all this youth homelessness.
“It’s a blight on society.”