Name the bullies
WANTED: Honesty, integrity, a history of community service and a willingness to consult and listen to and act on behalf of ratepayers.
NOT NEEDED: Political affiliations, particularly Green and Socialist Alliance, which have their own minority ideological agendas — flying rainbow flags and scrapping Australia Day celebrations for example — nor bullies, of course.
With the election date for a new City of Greater Geelong council fast approaching, we should begin thinking about what sort of councillors we want and what we want from them.
I’ve made my points above, but I realise that others will have their own priorities in terms of what they expect of our elected representatives: that’s democracy.
I don’t care what sex or race or religion our new councillors are, as long as they are good people with the wellbeing of their ward communities at heart and a vision, preferably a shared vision, for the future of the region as a whole, including the ailing CBD, which remains in urgent need of revitalisation.
A big picture vision is important for the future of Geelong, so I hope our new councillors will be able to raise their heads above ward boundaries?
A growing number of people have announced their intention to stand for election, several of them members of the council sacked in 2016, one a former pre-amalgamation City of Geelong councillor and another a member of the first City of Greater Geelong Council back in 1995.
But even before the election has taken place, old divisions are resurfacing and they bode ill for the future just as they have worked against Geelong’s interests in the past.
Former pre-amalgamation councillor and now a candidate for the October poll, Michael King, has blasted the Committee for Geelong for calling on the State Government to postpone the election until 2020, as recommended in the Commission of Inquiry report that led to the sacking of the council last year.
I wrote last September about the history of the CfG and why it exists and my opinion is that it has shown leadership in assisting Geelong’s transitioning from a traditional industrial city to a new, modern knowledge centre.
What is needed, especially when we do get our new council, is close consultation between all local groups to enable the region to speak with one, united voice.
That voice should be through the Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong: but the mayor should reflect the view, not only of the council, but also the organisations that represent the various com- munity stakeholders: that means consultation.
Former City of Geelong mayor Brian Fowler formed a group of local stakeholders during the Pyramid crisis and first CoGG mayor Gerry Smith did the same when unemployment became critical so there are precedents.
So let’s get over the petty jealousies of the past, divisive accusations like “faceless men” and “top end of town” and let’s all work together.
We now have the opportunity to make a new start so let’s aim for the best possible outcome for all the people of our region.
And finally, I believe the alleged bullies of the sacked council should be named and wonder why only former mayor, Darryn Lyons, has been accused of bullying by the Commission of Inquiry?
Are those critics correct who have claimed the council was sacked by a Labor Government in an effort to discredit Mr Lyons because he was perceived as a threat to sitting member for Corio, Richard Marles?
It does seem far-fetched, but then why not name those who allegedly bullied others and, as we have been told by the Commission of Inquiry and State Government spokespeople, helped make the sacked council dysfunctional.
After all, ratepayers and taxpayers have had to bear the cost of the initial Halliday Report, the Commission of Inquiry, the sacking of council, appointment of administrators in the interim and new council elections because of unnamed people whose activities have also been allowed to besmirch the reputations of nonbullying councillors.
Is that fair?