Conflict over statue art

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THERE has been a mixed reaction to new artwork which uses a large crate to cover up the controversial statue of former Tasmanian premier William Crowther in Franklin Square.

The Hobart City Council has been accused of “endorsing racism” while the statue (pictured) remains standing.

Aboriginal Land Council chairman Michael Mansell said the latest instalment of the council’s art project to spark conversation about

Crowther was “a good start”.

“It sends a clear message to the Hobart City Council that the statue has no place in a morally based Tasmania,” Mr Mansell said.

But he said the should be taken down.

“The statue honours a racist man and the longer the council allows that statue to stay there, the longer is the suggestion the council is endorsing racism,” Mr Mansell said.

“If it was a statue honouring the Nazis and what they did to the Jews, the councils would get rid of it immediately. statue

“They wouldn’t be asking artists to comment on the existence of Nazis.”

He said the Crowther statue should be replaced by a statue of Aboriginal Tasmanians who were victims of racism.

“William Lanne for example, he was treated absolutely disgracefully, so too were other Aborigines of his generation,” Mr Mansell said.

“The memory of those people has been wiped out while we honour Crowther and his generation of white people.

“If the Hobart council is not prepared to do it, the Tasmanian

government needs to step in and get rid of it and override it.”

Alderman Simon Behrakis was critical of the project, describing it as a “feel good woke project”.

“I think it’s one of those political bubble issues where it’s the activist class that care about this issue,” Mr Behrakis said.

“Most people want value for their rates.

“We have limited resources on this council and limited time and we should be directing it to areas where we can to see actually improve society.”

Mr Behrakis didn’t believe covering the statue was the right thing to do.

“This is a statue that’s been part of our city for a long time and the history of that man and our state are intrinsically intertwined,” he said.

“Covering it with a box and pretending it never happened is not a good way for society to be moving.

“The sanitisation of history that certain political elements feel uncomfortable with does no benefit to society.”