IT was another awkward performance at last week’s Ipswich City Council meeting when a motion by Cr Pye Augustine to establish a Multicultural Advisory Committee went astray.
The fault lines we’ve come to expect from this council appeared almost immediately.
There were several obscure comments and excuses for not supporting Cr Augustine.
Cr Jacob Madsen was concerned about overlap with the Council’s already established Indigenous protocols and current work Council officers are doing in the multicultural community. Both could be considered in any terms of reference.
Later, during discussion about an alternative motion, there were audible gasps as Cr Jim Madden recited what came across as white privileged ancestry and included a mention of the First Fleet, all during National Reconciliation Week.
This brought the meeting to an abrupt halt as Cr Augustine hurriedly left the meeting, visibly upset.
During the sudden adjournment, it was agreed, no doubt through raised voices and colourful language, to create the new advisory committee after all, but only for a trial period of six months, whereas beforehand the original Augustine motion was defeated.
There was a time councillors met informally on a regular basis to thrash out ideas and issues. Some passed more smoothly than others when they were eventually discussed at a council meeting.
Clearly some current councillors are coming to the chamber each month having not said a word to each other between meetings.
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