Victorian councillor in trouble for genital mutiliation tweet

A Victorian local councillor has been reprimanded for tweeting a graphic photograph of genital mutilation in her fight against the construction of a mosque.

But City of Greater Bendigo councillor Elise Chapman has refused to apologise, instead seeking a review of the decision through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The furore arose amid heated debate in the central Victorian city over a proposal to allow construction of a $3 million mosque.

The plans have been approved by the council but 15 objectors appealed to VCAT and made a separate appeal against perceived bias from the tribunal.

After receiving a tweet from a mosque supporter saying she hoped the mosque would be built soon, Cr Chapman replied with an image showing five babies with bloody genital mutilation wounds.

The incident was referred for a councillor conduct panel review under the state's Local Government Act.

The panel's report was tabled but not discussed at a Greater Bendigo Council meeting on Wednesday.

It made a finding of misconduct against Cr Chapman, reprimanded her, ordered her to make an unreserved apology to the council and the Bendigo community and ordered the council to review its councillor code of conduct.

VCAT is expected to publish its decision on the mosque proposal on Thursday.