Tara Murray
Police and security were in place at Tuesday’s Whittlesea council meeting with Palestine supporters rallying outside the meeting, with one member of the public asked to leave the meeting.
Free Palestine chants rang through the council chambers, following a council statement saying calls for the end to a ceasefire in Gaza is the role of the federal government, not local councils
A petition was received by the council at its February 20 council meeting calling for the council to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. There was also a public question asking the council about its position.
Similar petitions have been tabled at other council meetings, with many councils tabling motions which have passed, calling for the end to fighting in Gaza.
The petition tabled at Whittlesea council said many community members are deeply infected by this conflict particularly those who share religious, cultural and family ties to those in Palestine.
“We ask the council to pass a motion in support of Palestinian,” the petition said. “This motion must contain these several elements, the calling for an immediate unconditional and permanent ceasefire, a call for withdrawal of Israel from occupied Palestinian land… and mourning of the horrific loss of Palestinian and Israeli lives and condemnation of acts targeting civilians.”
The petition also called on the council to acknowledge that the conflict didn’t begin on October 7, for the council to fly the Palestine flag on council offices and call on the Australian government to condemn the Israeli war crimes and call for a ceasefire.
The petition was noted and tabled by the council.
Chair administrator Lydia Wilson read out a statement on the behalf of the council about the conflict in Gaza.
“The City of Whittlesea extends our thoughts and sympathies to those in our community who have family and friends directly impacted by the war in the Middle East,” she said.
“We do not condone violence and respect the right of everyone to live peacefully in accordance with their human rights, these international issues are the remit of the federal government as a local council, we will continue to focus our efforts on delivering services for our local community.”
Later in the meeting, a chant of free Palestine rang through the chamber for about 10 minutes. The administrators continued about the meeting as usual during this time.
In a statement, the council said it had been made been aware that Palestinian supporters had planned a rally outside the Civic Centre, where the council meeting.
“As part of its standard procedures, council conducted a risk assessment ahead of the meeting and employed security to ensure the safety of its staff and that the meeting could proceed,” the statement said. “Victoria Police were also notified and chose to attend.
“The rally was peaceful, however protestors did enter the council chamber building at one point with a megaphone.
“The group were welcome to sit and observe the meeting. One individual who was using a megaphone was asked to leave his megaphone outside a number of times due to the disruptive nature of the noise. “When he refused to do so he was eventually asked to leave, the remainder of the group were welcome to remain but chose to move back outside.”
