Mayor in middle of cross exchange

HOBART Lord Mayor Ron Christie says he came close to bringing the council chamber to order at last night’s meeting during a discussion about the inverted cross petition.

A petition with 16,290 signatures calling for the immediate removal of the inverted crosses that had been erected across Hobart was tabled before city council last month.

The petition requested the immediate removal of the Dark Mofo inverted crosses situated in three locations on the waterfront, one of which was located on council land adjacent to the Waterside Pavilion.

At last night’s meeting, alderman noted the petition and voted to notify the petitioner that the inverted crosses were removed on June 26 at the conclusion of Dark Mofo.

Alderman Bill Harvey, who presented the motion, said of the 16,290 signatures only about 700 were from southern Tasmania.

“The rest were from all over Australia and other countries,” he said.

Ald Harvey said by the time the petition was considered the crosses had been removed.

Alderman Philip Cocker said he was at the waterfront and observed the reflection of the crosses in the water was in the upright position.

“God works in mysterious ways,” one alderman said.

Ald Christie said the jovial nature of the conversation troubled him and he considered bringing the chamber to order.

“I was very wary of where the conversation was heading,” he said.

“I came close to pushing that button.”

Ald Christie said even if only 700 people from southern Tasmania signed the petition their views should be respected.