Matt Hewson
Numerous supporters of Free Palestine Geelong packed the Geelong council meeting at Highton this week, calling on the City to publicly support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
After a peaceful demonstration outside Highton Bowls Club, where the meeting was held, protesters filed into the council meeting, with many participating in the public question time.
Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan addressed the issue early on in the meeting, expressing the “extreme concern” and “profound sadness” of the councillor group and calling on the Australian government to support an ongoing humanitarian ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Many of the demonstrators, vocally unhappy with Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie’s decision to disallow councillors to bring forward motions to discuss the ongoing conflict, highlighted the difference in the City’s responses to the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts.
Mayor Sullivan responded that in the case of Ukraine, the council followed direction from both federal and state governments to light up City Hall and other public monuments.
Other members of the public noted the reticence of councillors to use terms such as “genocide”, “occupation”, “apartheid”, or even the name Palestine itself when referring to the conflict.
Councillor Belinda Moloney, chair of the Multicultural Geelong portfolio, said – through a chorus of boos and catcalls – councillors and council officers needed to be “incredibly sensitive in this matter”.
“(This) is a very delicate series of words that have a deep and profound impact,” Cr Moloney said.
“I understand what’s happening right now, but we have to be very careful in the way that we word our statements for a multitude of reasons. No one wants to cause upset or harm and we certainly want peace only.”
Mayor Sullivan also clarified during question time that the council was publicly endorsing a permanent end to the conflict.
