Maitland City Council has taken action against racism in the community.
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Council will write to federal Attorney General George Brandis to oppose changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.
Despite division on whether to write to Mr Brandis or the region’s federal local members, all councillors spoke out against racism at last night’s meeting.
Cr Loretta Baker urged her colleagues to take a stand against proposed changes to Section 18c of the act.
While Cr Baker said the matter was a federal issue, it was council’s responsibility to oppose changes to the law because they would affect people at a local level.
Maitland is one of about 50 councils across NSW considering a similar motion.
“I’m very much aware of the impact that racism has on people’s health and happiness,” she said.
“I’d like us to show leadership and show support for these people.”
But some councillors warned against becoming involved in federal issues.
Cr Steve Proctor suggested that they should write to local members Joel Fitzgibbon and Bob Baldwin for representation instead, but this motion was defeated by one vote.
All councillors took great pains to make their opposition to racism clear during the debate.
Crs Robert Aitchison and Ben Whiting spoke strongly in support of Cr Baker.
“I can go home tonight and say to my kids that I don’t support racism.
“We need to prove it by writing to the Attorney General,” Cr Aitchison said.
Cr Henry Meskauskas spoke about his experiences of being bullied as a child from an immigrant family from Europe that came to Australia in the 1940s.
“I feel so sad for these families,” he said.
“We need to show that we are all the same.”
Mayor Peter Blackmore proved crucial in getting Cr Baker’s motion passed, with the deciding vote.
Offensive behaviour because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin
(1) It is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if:
(a) the act is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people; and
(b) the act is done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or of some or all of the people in the group.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), an act is taken not to be done in private if it:
(a) causes words, sounds, images or writing to be communicated to the public; or
(b) is done in a public place; or
(c) is done in the sight or hearing of people who are in a public place.
(3) In this section:
"Public place" includes any place to which the public have access as of right or by invitation, whether express or implied and whether or not a charge is made for admission to the place.
SOURCE: Austlii
