Sydney councillor accosted at gym as female politicians demand better protection

Parramatta councillor Tanya Raffoul says she was verbally abused by a man who filmed the encounter, highlighting gaps in safety measures for local officials.

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published23 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

Parramatta councillor Tanya Raffoul was verbally abused at her gym by a man who filmed the incident, prompting calls from female politicians and advocates for stronger protections for local officials. Raffoul said she had previously reported concerns about the man to police but was told there was little they could do because he had not directly threatened her.

Parramatta councillor Tanya Raffoul was approached by Adriano Valentino while she was working out with her brother and sister. Valentino, 43, accused her of being rude and ignoring him after she stopped responding to messages about a pile of rubbish in her ward. He filmed the seven-minute encounter and posted it online, including verbal abuse of Raffoul and her family. A personal trainer escorted him out.

In the video, Valentino was recorded saying, "these f---ing, these women." In a statement, Valentino said his anger was “primarily in regard to [Raffoul’s] brother” and that “the language used in the heat of the moment was regrettable,” though he did not provide evidence of being intimidated.

Raffoul told the Sydney Morning Herald, "At what point do we say enough is enough? At what point will I feel safe again? At what point will I be protected? When I'm in hospital? Or when it's too late?" She said she had received abusive messages, including “Give your life to someone who really needs it c---” and “Deport the Arab”.

Licia Heath, chief executive of Women for Election, said the contents of the video should be enough to warrant extra security. “In what world do we not have enough evidence to say she is in harm’s way?” Heath said. “It ultimately becomes: are we in a consequence-free zone?”

Bronnie Taylor, a former NSW Nationals minister, said she had experienced similar abuse from a serial harasser with no consequences. “We just feel so vulnerable,” she said. “There have been absolutely no consequences for him."

A spokesperson for NSW Police said it had “a robust security plan in place to support all parliamentarians” but did not answer questions about support for councillors. The City of Parramatta is increasing security at council meetings following the incident.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The incident follows the alleged attack on Indi MP Helen Haines, and female politicians across western Sydney are raising alarms about escalating threats.
Local councillors often have less security than state or federal politicians, and police say a lack of direct threats limits their ability to act.
Advocates warn that online abuse is increasingly turning into real-world violence, as documented by global research.

Background

The incident is the latest in a series of confrontations involving Adriano Valentino. A year ago, he filmed himself outside the family home of then-Mayor Ola Hamed after her car was firebombed. Hamed did no nominate for mayor again. No link has been made between Valentino and the firebombing. The case highlights gaps in protections for local officials in NSW, where police have no specific framework for threats to councillors and council complaint systems are slow.

Key Perspectives

Tanya Raffoul and affected councillors: They seek better legal protection and police response, arguing that current advice to seek AVOs is inadequate and that harassment can escalate to violence before action is taken. Advocacy groups (Women for Election): They argue that video evidence of stalking and abuse should be sufficient for intervention, warning that a “consequence-free zone” encourages further escalation. Adriano Valentino: He characterizes his actions as legitimate civic scrutiny and says the gym incident was part of a “personal and political dispute,” expressing regret for his language but denying he intimidated Raffoul.

What to Watch

Whether NSW Police develops a specific framework for protecting local officials after this incident
The outcome of the council’s enhanced security measures and any potential AVO applications
Whether state government introduces legislative changes in response to growing concerns about political violence

Sources

This Sydney councillor was accosted at the gym by an angry man. She’s demanding change · The Sydney Morning Herald
This Sydney councillor was accosted at the gym by an angry man. She’s demanding change · Brisbane Times
This Sydney councillor was accosted at the gym by an angry man. She’s demanding change · WAtoday

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedA Sydney councillor was accosted at a gym.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “This week, he filmed himself walking up to Parramatta councillor Tanya Raffoul while she was at the gym, verbally abusing her and two family members in a seven-minute post.”
Partly supportedFemale politicians are demanding better protection.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “As political violence dominates the headlines following the alleged attack on Indi MP Helen Haines , female councillors across western Sydney have raised the alarm about worsening threats to their safety.”
SupportedRaffoul says a man verbally abused her at the gym and filmed the encounter.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Video from Valentino’s Facebook page shows him approaching Raffoul and her family at the gym. Adriano Valentino This week, he filmed himself walking up to Parramatta councillor Tanya Raffoul while she was at the gym, verbally abusing her and two family members in a seven-minute post.”
SupportedThe incident highlighted gaps in safety measures for local officials.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Councils particularly struggle with enforcing safety of councillors through a complaints system that is notoriously difficult to navigate and slow to fix things. NSW Police does not have a specific framework for dealing with threats to local officials, either.”
Partly supportedThe incident prompted calls from female politicians and advocates for stronger protections.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Licia Heath, chief executive of advocacy group Women for Election, said the contents of the video should be enough to warrant extra security protection for Raffoul.”
SupportedRaffoul had reported concerns about Valentino to police, who said there was little they could do because he had not directly threatened her.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Raffoul previously reported her concerns about Valentino to the police but was advised there was little they could do because he had not directly threatened her.”
Partly supportedValentino filmed a seven-minute encounter.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “This week, he filmed himself walking up to Parramatta councillor Tanya Raffoul while she was at the gym, verbally abusing her and two family members in a seven-minute post.”
SupportedValentino was recorded saying, “these f---ing, these women.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““The problem is,” Valentino said as he was escorted out by a personal trainer, “these f---ing, these women.””
SupportedValentino said his anger was primarily about Raffoul’s brother.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “his anger was “primarily in regard to [Raffoul’s] brother”.”
SupportedRaffoul asked when she would feel safe and be protected, and whether it would be when she was in hospital or too late.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““At what point do we say enough is enough?” she said. “At what point will I feel safe again? At what point will I be protected? When I’m in hospital? Or when it’s too late?”
SupportedHeath said the video should be enough to warrant extra security and asked whether there was enough evidence to say Raffoul was in harm’s way.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Licia Heath, chief executive of advocacy group Women for Election, said the contents of the video should be enough to warrant extra security protection for Raffoul. “In what world do we not have enough evidence to say she is in harm’s way?” Heath said.”
SupportedThe City of Parramatta is increasing security at council meetings following the incident.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The City of Parramatta is implementing a stronger security presence at its council meetings following the incident.”