Kindness and Respect towards Council staff

Published on 02 November 2026

Noosa Council CEO Larry Sengstock is encouraging the community to continue to have kind, respectful and constructive conversations with Council staff. 

Mr Sengstock said Council staff deserve to feel safe, respected and supported while working for our community and not be verbally abused or threatened. 

“We have a wonderful, caring community in Noosa and most interactions with our council staff are respectful, constructive and positive, however we have experienced a number of incidents where staff have been subjected to unacceptable behaviors” Mr Sengstock said.  

“In some instances, where our staff are out and about in the community, they've been on the receiving end of abuse and even threats of violence.  

“This aggressive, unacceptable behaviour is disturbing.” 

Since 2024, there have been a noticeable increase in reported incidents involving abusive or aggressive behaviour from members of the public against Council staff.  

“Respect should be at the centre of every conversation and everyone deserves to be treated with courtesy and understanding,” Mr Sengstock said. 

“Our council staff strive to serve with respect, empathy and professionalism, and we encourage the same spirit of respect in return. 

“We understand that councils are a target for strong views and respectful conversations help us better identify the issues and solutions.”

Mr Sengstock said the Mayor and Councillors are fully supportive of the Kindness and Respect message, which reinforces the community values that already make Noosa a welcoming and connected community.  

"Many of our staff live locally and are part of the community. We all care about helping to make Noosa a great place to live, work and visit, Mr Sengstock said. 

CEO Larry Sengstock on the rise in aggressive, unacceptable behaviour directed towards Council staff: