By Cam Lucadou-Wells
In a heated debate, Casey councillors have voted down a plan to advocate against marriage equality, with mayor Sam Aziz declaring the council would no longer be distracted by federal matters.
Two weeks after a heavily-criticised motion on national conscription, councillors largely abstained from Cr Rosalie Crestani’s push for the council to support a “huge silent majority”.
At the 1 August meeting, Cr Crestani particularly lashed out at the abstaining Cr Rex Flannery, accusing him of reneging on his support for her motion.
While explaining his position to the meeting, Cr Flannery said he had earlier told Cr Crestani that if same-sex marriage was allowed, “we would probably have to tear up the Bible”.
“I unfortunately don’t have a Bible,” he told the meeting.
At that point, Cr Crestani interjected and was urged to take her seat as she handed Cr Flannery her Bible.
Cr Flannery said he himself was “torn” over the issue.
The council also voted down a push for Casey to direct a 700-strong residents’ petition on the same issue to every federal MP in the country.
Councillors supported an alternative motion to write to the head petitioner to suggest the petition ought to be sent directly to the Federal Government without the council’s involvement.
Cr Crestani said the timing of the motion was a “gift” given changes to the Marriage Act could be voted upon in Canberra as soon as next week.
It was vital to protect one of the most “sacred covenants in human history” that was handed down by God – that marriage was between one man and one woman, Cr Crestani said.
She likened the possible change with the “hedonistic end” of the Roman empire, opening the door to multiple spouses, incest and child marriage.
“What is worse than paedophilia being legislated?”
She warned councillors that she would “remind you all of this night” whenever the council ventured into state and federal matters.
“There are some things that are just priceless.
“Money doesn’t matter if you don’t have a healthy society.”
Most councillors however seemed to agree with Cr Gary Rowe that the council should “stick to its knitting”.
“I think this is going one step too far.
“We need to stick to those things that local government is very good at – that is rates, roads and rubbish.”
Mayor Aziz said he was concerned with the “pattern” of exciting media interest in “a divisive debate on a peripheral issue” to the council.
He said in hindsight the conscription motion a fortnight earlier was a mistake, condemning Casey to much criticism across the nation.
Cr Aziz asked what would be next – a letter to NASA to settle on Mars, or to the UN Security Council on what to do about North Korea?
“I want to put a line under this debate.”
Cr Wayne Smith said councillors couldn’t claim to know the majority position of its constituents.
According to his own Facebook survey, people on both sides of the debate unanimously thought Casey’s intervention was inappropriate, Cr Smith said.
“Every one of them agreed they didn’t vote in councillors to have a position on this.”
