Cr Clinton has labelled council’s decision to wash their hands of the matter as “the end of democracy”.

During April’s public meeting Cr Clinton made the revelation before fellow councillors made a unanimous decision to end their involvement in the matter.

Cr Clinton was not involved in the meeting’s debate or vote.

“(It’s) the beginning of the end for democracy in Junee,” Cr Clinton said.

“If one person’s rights are not upheld, where do you stop and where does mob rule start?” he asked.

Cr Clinton said the decision was based on the basis of only one complainant and said council were “legally wrong”.

“Denying a person’s rights because they are the only complainant is ethically wrong,” he said.

Before the complaint came before councillors in February, council officers conducted a brief survey of neighbouring residents with one person complaining about the behaviour of patrons leaving the premises.

Cr Clinton said he was not surveyed.

Mayor Lola Cummins said she hoped any future complaints about noise from licensed premises were directed to the most appropriate bodies.

“Council feels that the most appropriate body to deal with noise complaints from licensed premises is the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR),” Cr Cummins said.

“The other aspect that was made quite clear in the report was council does not have either the resources or expertise for monitoring noise,” she said.

Dealing with the complaint has already cost ratepayers $11,000 in legal advice.