By Tanya Steele
Yarra Ranges Council came together at their regular meeting on Tuesday 27 June without a fully unified front on the Voice to Parliament, with two councillors not fully supporting the motion.
Mayor Jim Child and Councillor Richard Higgins initially did not accept the wording used to outline the council’s stance and looked to pass an alternate motion.
Councillors began by formally voting to release a position on a Voice to Parliament and the recommendation was made in two parts.
The council document stated:
“That Council supports the notion behind the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a Voice to Parliament and acknowledges that it is not Council’s role to tell people how to vote in the upcoming referendum.
The Council encourages the community to be informed and seek information from reputable channels.”
Deputy Mayor Cr Sophie Todorov moved the motion and was seconded by Cr Andrew Fullager.
Cr Todorov said she strongly supported the council in the notion of a statement from the heart.
“It’s not about the council’s role to tell people how they should vote and that’s made really clear in the recommendation tonight,” she said.
Cr Fullager said the council is committed to reconciliation and he acknowledged the three pillars from the Uluru Statement.
“There is the Voice which we’re talking to tonight, which aims to provide some rebalance to current social, economic, and political disadvantage, The Makarrata, working together after the struggle, which may or may not lead to a formal Treaty and the Truth-telling, which acknowledges our forebear’s missteps and atrocities,” he said.
Cr Fullager also said he supported the idea of encouraging research and understanding by providing an accessible source of factual unbiased information.
At this point in the meeting, Cr Child said he would like to put forward an amendment to the motion.
“It’s only a very small amendment and the amendment would be in point one to remove the word supports and replace it with acknowledges,” he said.
Cr Child said he believed that as a council, Yarra Ranges should be silent on the Yes or the No.
“There’s enough division out there at the moment without a motion like this, it makes it more neutral and that’s the way it should be,” he said.
Cr Higgins then reserved his right to speak.
Three councillors came out immediately very strongly against the suggestion of an amendment by Cr Child.
Cr Tim Heenan said he was not scared to use the word support and that the second part clearly states it is not the council’s role to tell people how to vote in the upcoming referendum.
“We’ve gone a long way since 1967, and understanding the needs of Indigenous people in Australia,” he said.
“When the referendum comes out Australians will need to take a long hard look and I’m not going to sit here and tell them how to vote tonight.
“What I will do is I will support the notion behind the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a Voice to Parliament.”
Cr Johanna Skelton said changing the word would diminish the original statement.
“We’re supporting the notion behind the First Nations voice enshrined in the Constitution…We’re saying that the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full, we’re supporting it,” she said.
“I am so thankful that we have First Nations people who are so patient and generous that they’re still there going, you know what, we can still provide you with good advice, and you can take it or leave it.
“This before us tonight is a real chance for us to amplify the voices and recommendations that we have from our own advisory committee.”
Cr Cox said he agreed with both the first and second items and he could not see any risk in any way.
“It will cause no problems in the future, it just spells it out as it is and I think it’s a very, very good motion,” he said.
Cr Higgins then used this right to speak and said he fully supported the recommended referendum coming forward but that he was arguing the council’s right to have an opinion that says it supports the First Nations voice enshrined in the Constitution.
“I don’t believe that our ratepayers expect us to speak on a document that is one document… we can’t make an opinion and spread it around though our ratepayers saying that this is where we support,” he said.
“Point two is fantastic, we don’t hold a position on the referendum.”
Governance advice was requested during the meeting and Cr Child was informed he must seek the agreement of the mover and seconder, he was then informed if the motion was lost, he could foreshadow to move an alternate motion.
Cr Child withdrew the amendment that he put forward and asked councillors to speak on the original motion put forward by Cr Todorov and Cr Fullager.
Cr Heenan, Cr Skelton and Cr Cox spoke in support of the motion.
Cr Heenan said he thought it was really important to understand some of the things that separate the Yarra Ranges from other councils, particularly in municipal Melbourne.
“We’ve got a long standing connection to a great Indigenous community and a very big Indigenous community,” he said.
“We have a very passionate and very understanding and educated Indigenous Advisory Committee which we worked with for many, many years on issues that are relevant towards our Indigenous community.”
Cr Higgins said again he supported the referendum but not the motion.
“Should council’s position be, it should be based on many and informing the public of what they need to know to make an informed decision and I don’t think it’s our role to go one way or the other,” he said.
Cr Child said he agreed with Cr Higgins, but that he supported people finding out the information without being influenced by any decision council makes.
Cr Torodov said the council had a much greater discussion and debate than she imagined they would but that she thought it was a good thing.
“I think it’s important to hear all our differing opinions and views on this but I’m still standing steadfast and going with the motion that I have put forward… and that is to support the notion,” she said.
The motion was passed with everyone but Cr Child and Cr Higgins in favour.
