Two well-known Byron Shire identities are moving, and say that the reason is in part from constant harassment for speaking publicly of their views around the genocide in Gaza.
Subhi Awad and musician Áine Tyrrell provide their reasons here.
As a community, we might believe we project tolerance, respect and fairness, but that wasn’t Subhi’s or Áine’s, experience.
It is a great loss of diversity when those with informed views move away. And those who opt for harassment against opinion they don’t like simply lose all credibility.
Australia is a successful multicultural nation, and despite its many flaws, there is much to learn from all those who have chosen to call it their home. Fewer voices does not make this a better place, only one which becomes more tribal, and less compassionate.
And as Áine points out, dangerous.
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The Greens mayor has courageously opted again to back staff.
It’s been a constant theme of recent mayors to put the interests of Council staff before residents. And it didn’t really end all that well for them. It’s a perilous decision to make given what’s at stake. Bravo!
Yet is protecting staff her job? Within section 226 of the NSW Local Government Act 1993, which defines the role of mayor, there’s nothing in it about defending Council staff.
There is mention, however, of advancing community cohesion and promoting civic awareness, and ‘engagement between the Council and the local community’.
The specific complaints made by residents around Council staff’s intervention on behalf of developers remain – all that the general manager has said is that he refutes them. Dismissed with a meaningless sentence! Kapow!
And no, the general manager is not correct to say that ‘Staff, at all times, adhere to NSW legislation and the planning framework’.
They didn’t when the development application (DA) 10.2023.454.1 at 53 McAuleys Lane was first assessed and advertised. Residents had to point out that they had got it wrong. But hey, everyone makes mistakes. Repeatedly.
The mayor went further, saying the staff intervention was justified, as it’s land ear-marked for development under the Rural Land Use Strategy.
That’s terrible governance, given the proposal has a very long, detailed list of issues that have not yet been addressed.
It’s not addressing affordable housing, either, so overall, her comments are not a great look from a Greens mayor. Why the strong support?
Do the Greens back wealthy developers at all costs?
The only win in this taudry governance mess is that the GM has committed to providing a staff report on the DA prior to it being handed to the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP).
It’s not what residents at Chinbible Avenue in Mullumbimby were afforded prior to a large inappropriate DA going to court. There is still no answer from staff as to why they let that dreadful DA go to court in the first place.
Come on councillors! Step up and bring us long-term, long-suffering residents along with you on this bumpy, pothole-riddled ride.
Hans Lovejoy, editor
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