City of Greater Geelong Councillor Sarah Hathway has been prevented from tabling a motion calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.
Hathway informed council on November 14 about her motion, and was prepared to work with council officers.聽Shortly afterwards, she was told that due to the OHS concerns for Council staff, councillors and the public of 鈥渆scalating protests and growing civil unrest鈥 she would not be allowed to move any motion.
The Windermere Ward, where Hathway has been elected, includes many Arab-Australians who have been involved in protesting for peace.
Hathway, a member of Socialist Alliance, told 麻豆传媒 she was told by the council CEO that her motion was unacceptable because it may be 鈥減rejudicial to any person or Council鈥.
Given that the war is 鈥渁 pressing issue鈥 for so many, Hathway聽believes council has a responsibility to at least talk about it.
鈥淎s a Windermere Ward councillor, I represent people in the community who are right now feeling very impacted and devastated about what is going on in Gaza.鈥
Hathway understood that the CEO believes that debating a motion would put Council staff, councillors and the community at risk.
鈥淏ut there have already been two peaceful demonstrations in support of a Gaza ceasefire in Geelong,鈥 Hathway said.聽鈥淭here has also been two peaceful civil disobedience actions outside [defence minister] Richard Marles鈥 office. No-one was put at risk.鈥
Hathway said she was concerned about 鈥渁n undeclared political agenda鈥.
鈥淣ot so long ago, this council lit up City Hall in Ukrainian flag colours. It made statements of support for the national rights of Ukrainians after Russia鈥檚 invasion.
鈥淎t no time was there any suggestion that this would lead to community violence.
鈥淵et, when I and another councillor move to put up motions which mean council will discuss the Israel-Gaza conflict 鈥 just as Canterbury-Bankstown Council in Sydney and Meri-bek Council in Melbourne have done 鈥斅爓e鈥檙e ruled out of order.鈥
Hathway asked: 鈥淒on鈥檛 the concerns and anguish of people in my ward 鈥斅爉any of whom are Palestinians, Muslims and refugees 鈥斅爉atter?
鈥淲hy even have council elections when we can鈥檛 raise such important issues? Who exactly is in charge: elected councillors or unelected officials?鈥
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