Rosalie Crestani, a local councillor at the City of Casey in Melbourne, has put forward a motion to ban all LGBTI promotion in the city.
At the council meeting last night her motion failed to find any support with no other members of the council prepared to back her proposal. The conservative Councillor has indicated that she will reintroduce the motion later this week.
The motion is outlined below.
Notice of Motion 2886
Sexual OrientationCr Crestani Council Plan Reference: Not provided
I hereby give notice that at the Council Meeting on18 November 2014 I intend to move a motion as follows:
That, since the role of the Council is local, it is beyond the Council’s powers to adopt policies in State or Federal matters such as to sexual orientation; that, since the function of the Council is to provide public services to our residents, it is beyond the Council’s remit to discuss or address private issues such as sexual orientation;
that, since the obligation of the Council is to serve all residents equally, it is beyond the Council’s powers to accord any special treatment to any sexual orientation;
that, since the Council’s decisions must not favour any one political party, faction or special interest, it is contrary to the Council’s obligation of objectivity and neutrality to promote any particular sexual orientation; and that, therefore, with immediate effect –
1. The communications department shall no longer issue media releases
concerning sexual orientation or LGBTI.2. LGBTI “diversity training” of Council staff shall cease.
3. The GLHV (Gay Lesbian Health Victoria) signs “You don’t have to tell us if
you’re gay, lesbian, bi, trans* or intersex. But you can.” shall be removed from
all Council premises.4. Council committees shall no longer be used for partisan promotion of the
LGBTI vested interest.
Councillor Crestani is currently standing for election to Victoria’s Upper House. She is a candidate for the Rise Up Australia Party.
The religious based party, which is closely aligned with the Hellfire Ministries has an ultra-conservative outlook. The party is headed by Dr Daniel Nalliah, who claims to have met Jesus and previously made headlines when he claimed Victoria’s deadly bush fires were caused by abortion.
Speaking to the Star Observer yesterday Cr Crestani defended her motion arguing that she was creating equality by banning support of any LGBTI organisations or projects.
“I just want equality for all. By singling someone out, you’re paving the way for discrimination.
“We are continuing to discriminate against the heterosexual community if we go down that path.” Cr Crestani said.
The Councillor repeated her view that she was supporting the LGBTI community on her Facebook page. Councillor Crestani argued that she has spent years listening to the LGBTI community and suggested that offering people counselling, regardless of their sexuality, would be a more suitable endevour.
“Even though my motion last night at Council was about discrimination against the heterosexual community and addressing this breach of the Equal Opportunity Act at the Casey Council, I want to ensure that I’m heard correctly about the LGBTI community; and that is, I regard them as equal and I am unbiased towards any person, especially when it comes to my role as a Councillor.
“The LGBTI diversity training the staff receives, the LGBTI poster hanging on our wall and the attempts to request for sexual orientation matters to be raised at committees, are in themselves insensitive because they fail to address the true pain that this community can go through and may even reinforce it.
“Why diversity training is needed goes beyond marginalisation but after years of reading, listening and learning of the LGBTI community, it is my understanding it goes deeper than marginalisation. With high representation in the statistics for mental health issues and suicide, I have a great deal of compassion for the LGBTI community
“As an elected official, would I be remiss in ignoring this huge oversight of pain, and even cruelty in our awkward attempts to help, and better direct any member of the community, regardless of who they are and what sexual feelings they have, to free counselling?
“Can we reduce the isolation the LGBTI community feels by no longer singling them out for special treatment? Is it not high time the three levels of government provide this crucial service, which could be a first order of business of the next state government?
“It is time our authorities stop shoving issues of sexual orientation down every one’s throats, instead deal with it effectively and then lives will be truly saved.”
The motion has been criticised by other members of the council. Fellow Councillor Rafal Kaplon, who identifies as a member of the LGBTI community labeled the move a political stunt.
“(Her) motion was nothing more than a cheap political ploy by the Rise up Australia Party … to gain traction before the state election by picking on the Muslim and gay-lesbian minority groups,”Cr Kaplon said.
Cr Wayne Smith told community newspaper The Leader that he was appalled by move.
“I apologise to members of the Casey community who might be offended by the outrageous proposal raised by Cr Crestani,” he said.
OIP Staff
