Mayor cops Zucco serve over name

A HOBART alderman has called on Lord Mayor Ron Christie to apologise for his comments supporting the dual name nipaluna/Hobart, saying ratepayers and Aboriginal groups have been blindsided by his statements.

Last week, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre offered the Hobart City Council use of the traditional name, nipaluna, for the state capital, which was gratefully accepted by Ald Christie who vowed to use the name at every opportunity.

Ald Christie has maintained this was his choice and not a reflection of the council’s position on dual names.

At last night’s council meeting, Ald Christie officially presented a plaque and the nipaluna name to the city of Hobart. But Ald Marti Zucco accused Ald Christie of not following through with public statements he would bring forward to council his intentions for Hobart to adopt a dual name.

“Ald Christie’s constant threat to use the dual name and have the council agree with his intentions was a dramatic flop considering his mooted threats over the past days,” Ald Zucco said.

“At no stage during the Welcome to Country did Ald Christie mention any reference to dual naming.”

He said Ald Christie’s recent comments were unbecoming of a Lord Mayor.

“No Lord Mayor should push or pursue their personal views on the ratepayers as we have all had to endure over the past days,” he said.

“The city does not need a presidential Trump-style Lord Mayor and nor should Lord Mayor act as such.”

Ald Christie said it was apparent from Ald Zucco’s “outlandish comments” he did not understand the meaning of Reconciliation Week.

“There’s no need to consult on a gift — you either accept or return it,” he said.

Ald Christie said the Welcome to Country speech at the beginning of every council meeting was standard and the speech did not mention the name Hobart so he never intended to use the nipaluna/ Hobart last night. any