Half-mast mayor raises red flags
THE CEO at the Town Of Victoria Park which voted Yes in the Voice referendum said during public question time on October 17 the Aboriginal flag would not be lowered as, “there are protocols for flags and the Federal Government has not provided any instruction to do that”.
Cockburn’s CEO said the City would follow State Government protocol and not lower the Aboriginal flag: “The City of Cockburn follows directives from the department of local government, sport and cultural industries and has received no directive to date.”
The City of Canning also refused, “in line with State directives”.
So what is it with Fremantle when the same rules and interpretation exist for all local governments in WA? Under what authority did the City of Fremantle decide to lower the Aboriginal flag during the WA local government election caretaker period?
Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge states polling places within the City voted overwhelmingly Yes, “with some booths returning a more than 75% affirmative vote”, when in fact Yes returned 46.76% and No 53.24%, the lowest in Samson at 50% (State electoral figure).
This was reflected in all Australian states and territories, except the ACT, which delivered a conclusive No to enshrining an Indigenous voice in the constitution. Nationally, only 39.6 per cent of the population voted Yes while 60.4 voted No.
Mayor Fitzhardinge believes despite the figures, whether you like them or not, “is evidence that Fremantle’s reconciliation journey has had a positive impact on our community”.
At the October 25 ordinary council meeting, Freo ratepayer Alan Greenwood said lowering the flag was a divisive gesture: “Flags are powerful. Half mast is when a person dies, it is very clear protocols were not followed.”
He said Ms Fitzhardinge brushed off the matter when asked whether she had broken protocols, stating lowering the flag was not a big deal: “I don’t see a consultative process. As a ratepayer I’d like a council to look at practical services. Virtual signalling, moral pontification has no place in council business.”
Mr Greenwood reminded the mayor she did not have overriding decision making powers to make such a call, decisions are made for the whole of Fremantle.
He asked why council decided to facilitate a referendum campaign, “which featured very much the left side of politics and also a speaker who is from the very left side of unionism. Why was that funded to the tune of $35,000”.
Ms Fitzhardinge: “I do what mayors are asked to do in this situation which is check the protocol with the CEO and that was, you know, the outcome. When I am aware any protocols have been breached by putting the Aboriginal flag at half mast, certainly it was something that through the consultative process we’ve had through the Walyalup Reconciliation Action Plan … has been a high priority that we show this level of commitment to the Uluru statement of the heart.”
Heather Wright quoted the City’s code of conduct and criticised council for using the resources of local government for electoral purposes, “to persuade electors to vote in a particular way”.
She said the City spent $35,000 to persuade people to vote Yes, accusing councillors of having voted to, “spend our rates to further your own political agenda”. She said she’d like the money returned.
“It is a subject of interpretation that you have brought before us,” the mayor responded, hand balling the question to CEO Glen Dougall who said the decision was adopted by council not individual elected members.
Importantly for residents and ratepayers, the mayor adds without a pinch of reality reflected in the result: “We are continuing on this journey, and our commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, through enshrining the principles of Voice, Treaty and Truth in our new WRAP.”
Does this mean under Mayor Fitzhardinge, Fremantle ratepayers now enjoying some of the highest rates in the metropolitan area can look forward to more of the same, and at their expense, in the face of continuing concerns over the City’s finances and cost blow out of the new Walyalup civic centre.
Given public criticism over the hundreds of millions of dollars the Albanese Government spent promoting the failed Yes vote, don’t expect too much to be said over the decision by council in March to spend tens of thousands of ratepayers’ money to promote the Yes campaign and fund talks and visits to Perth by Uluru Statement from the Heart signatory Thomas Mayo. What ratepayers can expect is more of the same from an elected member who cannot accept that no means NO.
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