Cr Grant Tillett was taking part in the three-hour forum organised by the Ballarat Community Alliance, which describes itself as an 'association of progressive community organisations, advocating for a better Ballarat.'

The Alliance, co-founded by Stand Up Collaboration's director Ange Elson and former Greens candidate Tony Goodfellow, invited candidates for the coming council elections to consider a range of issues, including reconciliation, gender equity, social housing, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, disability rights, recycling and climate change.

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Ange Elson says she invited Cr Tillett, as she did all candidates, in the hope he would speak on issues he was personally passionate about, specifically recycling and waste-to-energy.

However, in a conversation between Cr Tillett and Ms Elson debating the current make-up of council and its representation of women, Indigenous and Rainbow Community members, the debate became heated.

Arguing councillors have a duty not to go into chambers with predetermined views, Cr Tillett came to the end of his allotted speaking time having not completed his point and visibly frustrated.

As Ms Elson moved onto the next speaker, the Zoom camera remained fixed on Cr Tillett, while the audio was switched over. Cr Tillett can be seen either saying or mouthing the phrase 'f**king b*tch' or words similar.

Speaking to The Courier, Cr Tillett said he did not believe he spoke the words, although he was 'not sure'.

"I don't know," Cr Tillett said.

"If I have offended anyone, I apologise. I have no real memory of what happened."

However Cr Tillett, despite describing himself as a 'rough, tough bastard', and who says he has 'no history' of 'that kind of behaviour', gave a spirited defence of himself on social media where he appeared to acknowledge he used the phrase or a variant of it, saying he had been 'screwed twice' by the group.

Others defended Cr Tillett, saying the words were directed at his dog, or were out of character for the councillor.

Ange Elson disagrees with Cr Tillett's explanation of his behaviour, saying she's seen Cr Tillett 'explode at other people' and citing his reaction to questions posed to him in the past.

"Sissy Austin and Amber Lubbock raised a question in relation to why councillors had not completed cultural competency training, which is set out in the Ballarat Council Reconciliation Action Plan," Ms Elson said.

"Mr Tillett requested they apologise to him; he felt it was a slight against his character. I was incredibly relieved Mark Bruty tackled him on this, because I was sitting there watching the footage going, 'Oh, please don't make me have to... I'm loathe to... you know why women don't come forward."

"He's done the generic apology - 'If I've offended anybody...' That's not actually a proper apology. So he's not sorry that he said it, to me. He's sorry he got caught out."

The Ballarat Community Alliance has called on City of Ballarat interim CEO Janet Dore to release Susan Halliday's report into cultural reform at council before the election, saying voters should be entitled to know its contents before they vote.

Cr Tillett is critical of candidates agreeing to pledges from community and lobby groups, saying they may be in violation of the Local Government Act and their oath of office, and risk placing themselves in a conflict of interest when issues come before council. A number of candidates and sitting councillors have endorsed the Ballarat Community Alliance pledge.

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