The Voice and Bass Coast Council

BASS Coast council does not ‘read the room’ and an example is the motion put up by the Councillor at Wednesday’s meeting, re the voice. Not only did it put the other councillors in a compromising position, but it was also an invasion of their democratic right by expecting each Councillor to vote for or against something that has become a hot and divisive issue and not in the councils ‘job description’. The only responsibility of the councillors re the voice is to use their vote to vote how they want.

How can Bass Coast Council justify advocating for the yes vote when it is not even adopted by many other councils, only 16 councils agreed to promote yes, not even a third, out of 63 councils, the others remaining neutral, and are not forcing their own views on their ratepayers. The council already has the Reconciliation Plan.

Can this council please explain why they feel that they have the right to encroach on our democratic right to coerce us to vote one way, ‘their way’. It is insulting the intelligence of the ratepayers, for council to think they need to inform us how to vote, ratepayers are not stupid and can decide for themselves without council pushing their own position of the yes vote.

Council must have missed the memo that the polls show the majority are against the voice so BCC has no right to advocate for one side, as that would indicate that council is not representing all ratepayers and they are responsible for all ratepayers.

Ratepayers expect this council to concentrate on the rubbish around the roads, the dangerous roads, state of the roads, the overgrown drains, the selective/inconsistency of town planning and not adhering to planning guidelines [waste of time having guidelines and strategic planning as they are not followed], making sure the new inclusive toilets near Woollies is not blocked and are clean, to spend ratepayers money wisely.

Many ratepayers will be outraged if money is spent on promoting a yes vote. How much money, time and effort does council put into mental health because their actions sure cause a lot.

Name withheld