Michaela Meade
A clear message that racism is not welcome in Maribyrnong will be signposted around the municipality after council passed a motion last week.
Cr Jorge Jorquera raised the motion at the council meeting last week, calling for 40 signs to be installed at “key busy locations” in the city, as well as for council to endorse the overall Racism Not Welcome campaign, developed by the Inner West Multicultural Network in Sydney, and to organise an annual event on March 21, to mark the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Cr Jorquera said the “increased vilification” of Chinese residents in the municipality prompted his motion.
“The idea for this campaign… is to spark a conversation,” Cr Jorquera said.
“I hope… it’ll be a credit to us that we will be the first Victorian council to adopt this… which would be fantastic.
“I hope that we will be an example for some of the other councils, especially the nearby ones.”
Cr Sarah Carter said she was in support of the motion, and inquired as to the costs.
Chief executive Stephen Wall confirmed an approximate cost of $100 per sign, meaning the signage would cost $4000.
Mr Wall said the cost of the annual event would be dependent on the size.
Cr Carter said, “Effectively, this is not an expensive campaign.”
Cr Anthony Tran said the motion was particularly important to him.
“I feel like this campaign… is a way of council adopting our position on racism,” he said.
“I think it’s very clear… it’s as bright as daylight.
“What is more important to me, not just as a person of colour, but as someone who calls Maribyrnong my home [is] to make sure that people feel comfortable stepping into our city, knowing exactly what we do, in terms of how we view racism, how we… stamp it out.
“I think costs aside… to say we wouldn’t adopt this would personally be beyond my belief.”
Mayor Michael Clarke said the motion was important for council and the community.
“I believe in freedom of speech, councillors, but I don’t believe in freedom of speech when it infringes upon the rights of others, when it subjugates others, when it represses others.
“Racism is repression, point blank.
“This council [is] represented by very different faces.
“We are different, but our strength is in our diversity.”
The motion was carried unanimously.
