The Surf Coast Shire Council has reaffirmed their stance on Australia Day, upholding their decision to not hold celebrations on January 26.
Councillors met on Tuesday night, with a number of big ticket items on the agenda.
Mayor Mike Bodsworth understands discussions around Australia Day can be divisive.
“I hasten to add that we’re not interested in restricting anyone else’s freedom to celebrate the day as they wish, so it’s purely a case of council participating in celebrations on Australia Day,” he said.
“We recognise its a sensitive issue for people. The main rationale is that we feel its inconsistent with our commitment to walk with traditional owners and other aboriginal Australians, while celebrating a day that brings such pain and sorrow.”
“We’re looking forward, in the future, to a different way of celebrating a national day, Australia Day preferably, to our council position, on a different date.We had a very respectful debate on it which I’m really grateful for.”
The Mayor also spoke to the one month suspension handed to Councillor Paul Barker regarding social media posts disputing attendance numbers at an Indigenous truth-telling ceremony run by Council.
“Every councillor, when they take up office, promises to abide by Victoria’s Model Councillor Code of Conduct, and I felt that Cr Barker’s contributions on Facebook regarding the last 26th of January didn’t meet those conduct standards,” he said.
“Cr Barker disagreed. As a normal matter of process, that went through an independent arbitration process, and the independent arbiter found that Cr Barker had breached the Councillor Code of Conduct.”
“Cr Barker behaved really well throughout. Neither of us lost our cool. We went through the process in a really orderly way and I’m grateful that that’s been sorted now and we can get back to achieving great things on behalf of the communities that we’re serving.”
The meeting also saw the team adopt their Council Plan for the four years of their term.
“That’s our road map. It is the number one strategic document for our term,” Mayor Bodsworth said.
The document was not only informed by Councillors.
“They’ve all brought their different perspectives, which is what makes local government so great, and it also reflects really well what we heard from community,” he said.
“There are five themes: Assets and Infrastructure, Climate and Environmental Leadership, Community Wellbeing, High Performing Council, and Sustainable Communities.”
The Surf Coast Shire Council’s next meeting is scheduled for October 28.
