'Yes' or 'No', should Council be supporting the Voice?

CR LETICIA Laing will be asking her fellow councillors this Wednesday, September 20, to declare that the Bass Coast Shire Council is supporting a ‘Yes’ vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum.

But Cr Laing is attempting to pitch her ‘Notice of Motion’ as a community service initiative, where council “commits to sharing clear, credible information on the Voice to Parliament and all aspects of the upcoming referendum to assist residents in making their own considered and informed choice on the day”.

“We want to help ensure our community is well-informed to decide.”

But does that mean she will be asking the council to provide information about the benefits of voting ‘No’, as it seems that at least half the population is intending to do, as well as “clear credible information” about the reasons to vote ‘Yes’?

It’s doubtful.

Cr Laing’s motion claims the Council will continue to respect everyone’s right to choose how they want to vote, so, what’s the point then?

Clearly, Cr Laing is looking for Council to influence the way people vote in the referendum, to try to reinforce the resolve of those who are already committed to voting ‘Yes’ and to try to sway those in the middle, by showing them the lead, that voting ‘Yes’ is the best option.

Here’s the Notice of Motion Cr Laing intends to move this Wednesday:

That Council: (1.) Supports a constitutionally enshrined voice to Parliament for First Nations people; (2.) Commits to sharing clear, credible information on the Voice to Parliament and all aspects of the upcoming referendum to assist residents in making their own considered and informed choice on the day; and (3.) Is committed to reconciliation. We acknowledge that we are on a journey of learning. We continue to work actively in partnership with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. (4.) We acknowledge there are different views around the Voice. We respect everyone’s right to express their views and to choose how to vote. We want to help ensure our community is well-informed to decide. (5.) We acknowledge that any position resolved by Council is without prejudice to individual positions of each Councillor or Council officer.”

Other views

There are, however, other views.

• Linda Marston, Secretary, Island Voice has written a letter as follows:

Dear Councillors,

I write to you on behalf of Island Voice, a major stakeholder for the community of Phillip Island.

A large number of our members have expressed great concern regarding the motion that Cr. Laing intends to table at the September council meeting asking that BCSC supports a ‘Yes’ vote, in the upcoming referendum on an indigenous voice to Parliament.

Island Voice believes that it is inappropriate for Council to support/advocate for a Yes or No vote and attempt to influence the community.

By definition referendums are used to determine the answer to political questions by the electorate. They are a secret ballot, where everyone is equally able to express their personal choice, essentially individual votes of conscience. The Federal government has provided information about the important issues and there is much discussion in the press and media about this matter. People are able to educate themselves about the issues involved.

We whole-heartedly defend Cr Laing’s right to her individual freedom of expression but believe that Council should always act apolitically and not support a particular position on this matter. Council’s role should rather be to highlight how people can access/view the Referendum pamphlet, as many have not yet received theirs by post, and to encourage people to have their say on this very important matter. They should not, by action or inference, attempt to influence the vote.

For these reasons, we ask that Councillors reject Cr. Laing’s proposed motion.

• Spokesman for the Bass Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association, Kevin Griffin, has also written a letter, from himself as an individual:

This week Bass Coast Shire Councillors will vote on a motion to declare support for a Yes vote in the upcoming national referendum.

The motion seeks to engage Council in an issue that does not fall within its remit. It is not the role of Bass Coast Shire Council to take sides in this national referendum.

The remit for explaining the debate lays clearly at the Federal Government level. It does not sit with our local Councillors.

By implication the motion calls on Councillors to disclose how they each intend to vote in the upcoming national referendum.

Whilst it is proper for Councillors to individually promote their voting preference outside of Council chambers, it is not appropriate for Councillors to be calling for such disclosure in chambers at a public Council meeting.

The debate is for the Feds to thrash out and to explain to the nation. There’s already an abundance of information about this referendum and the debate.

Should Councillors declare support for this motion then they will be sending a clear message that voting Yes is their preferred way for you to vote also.

Whether you intend to vote Yes or No is none of my business, just as whether I intend to vote Yes or No is none of your business. And it is most certainly no business of Bass Coast Shire Council to seek to influence how we each intend to vote in this national referendum.

Our Councillors need to stay in their lane. Our local rates money will be better utilised by Councillors focussing on their role of Local Government representatives, by ensuring that local roads are maintained, by constructing safe community footpaths, etc.

As a resident and ratepayer of Bass Coast Shire I ask that Councillors not support the Notice of Motion.