The City of Newcastle isn’t just out of touch — it’s drunk on power. Instead of sticking to roads, rates, and rubbish, council has decided its new mission is to patrol speech, judge thought, and smear its own residents. This week they proved it. Over a rumour — not a real march, not an approved protest, just a whisper of a “March for Australia” — they fired off a press release declaring it “unauthorised” and branding anyone who showed up a racist. That’s right: disagree with the council, and you’re automatically a bigot. No discussion. No nuance. Just the scarlet letter...