I suspect it has well suited council management and some councillors to have council meetings closed to the public.

The proposal for 12 tickets only for the public moving forward is unacceptable.

I attended a concert recently at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) where there was no mandated social distancing in the form of spare rows or seats.

IN NEWS AROUND BATHURST:

Attendees about half filled the concert hall, but the crowd was congregated front and centre before the stage.

Given the current COVID status, I have absolutely no problem with this.

The question is why is council adopting a different approach to selling tickets at BMEC to issuing tickets in the public gallery?

If this policy cannot be reviewed, to accommodate some public discourse, I suggest council pick up and move to a larger space for meetings for the time being, BMEC for example!