Sunbury’s Jack Medcraft last week accused fellow Hume councillors of voting to “let terrorists in” during a discussion about asylum seekers, before being censured by mayor Casey Nunn and forced to withdraw his remark.
Cr Medcraft was voting against a recommendation that the council become a signatory to a joint statement on behalf of Victorian local governments calling for more humane treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.
The statement, compiled by a Northern Metropolitan Mayors and CEOs Forum, read: “We call on the Australian government to abandon its harsh policies and practices in dealing with asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat, and restore Australia’s international reputation and record on human rights.”
“I’m not here to fly the flag for radical fanatics that believe in the tooth fairy and want to think every refugee who comes into the country is a fair-dinkum, honest, law-abiding citizen,” Cr Medcraft told the meeting, saying if refugees wanted to better themselves, they should buy an airline ticket and come here with a passport rather than dealing with “common criminals” offering them passage on boats.
Deputy mayor Adem Atmaca took on Cr Medcraft. “The first rule of humanity is respect, respect for your fellow man,” he said. “I don’t think anyone who calls themselves human could go against this.”
He said everyone had a right to protect their families and children, the right to humane treatment and to live in safety.
“Why are we locking them up?” Cr Atmaca asked.
Helen Grimaux
