Merit has its own merits

By Emma Sun
CASEY councillors will be finding appropriate ways to recognise the City of Casey’s culturally diverse individuals, groups and events during the Australia Day awards.
The original proposal, made by councillor Simon Curtis, was for Casey to strengthen its position on diversity by including an Australia Day award to recognise community work and embrace and celebrate diversity in Casey.
Cr Curtis tried to put forward that cultural diversity should not be the only thing being recognised but also diversities like disabilities, age and sex.
“We want to look at those who are most marginalised in the community and bring them to the forefront of the City of Casey,” Cr Curtis said. His proposal was overturned when councillors voted for Cr Sam Aziz’s amended model, which will award people on the basis of merit.
“We want to give this award because of the fantastic work someone did for the community and then in a different line altogether we will ensure people who are disadvantaged are never disadvantaged,” Cr Aziz said.
“It’s a great thing to have it but we shouldn’t link it to something totally irrelevant. We don’t give award because they’re a man or woman but because of their merits.
“The critical difference is we give an award to someone because of the merit they present, not because of socioeconomic circumstance, disability circumstances and gender circumstances.”