The bid by Labor Councillor Robbie Nyaguy to start a community consultation about the future of the vandalised Cook statue failed after an acrimonious 90-minute debate at last Wednesday’s Council meeting.
In front of a packed public gallery and after a procession of public submissions supporting prompt repair of the statue, the Mayor brought forward the debate on Cr Nyaguy’s motion.
But the debate bordered on farce when Cr Nyugay amended his own motion to support repair of the statue but also have ‘community engagement process to understand community views on the location and context of the Captain Cook statue.’
Nyaguy motion struggled for support
The amended motion struggled to get a seconder with Crs Crawford and Baxter remaining silent until fellow Labor Cr Peter Martin, who was calling in from the UK, offered to second the amended notion.
Debate typical of this divided council
The lengthy debate that followed was typical of this very divided council. There were frequent petty points of order, snide personal remarks and repeated calls by the Mayor for better behaviour from councillors. Security was called to remove an angry member of the public.
Divisions and irritation on display
Those speaking against the motion said it was wrong to reward the vandals. Those speaking for the motion said it was possible to repair the statue and have a nuanced conversation about history of white settlement and First Nations people.
The meeting also received a statement from the Boonwurrung Land & Sea Council supporting the immediate repair of the statue.
The Nyaguy motion was lost, with Mayor Cunsolo, joining Crs Pearl, Clarke, Sirakoff and Bond to vote against.
The motion was supported by Crs Nyaguy, Martin, Crawford and Baxter.
But wait, there’s more uncertainty
Council CEO Chris Carroll declined to give a commitment to reinstate the statue because there were still financial considerations to be worked through.
Officers told Council the statue was insured but there was a $5000 excess. The early quotes were $8000 to repair the statue plus more to repair the plinth. It was also said that a minimal community consultation would cost $12,500. It was also noted that any and all work needed to be approved by heritage authorities.
Meanwhile, the Cook activists have been linked to other headlines
A shadowy activist group has been linked in the media (by ABC Radio’s Raf Epstein) to a spate of recent actions, including the Cook statue, protests at Pride March, anti-Israel blockades at Melbourne Docks and the paint throwing at the ABC in Southbank.
The group CRYM (pronounced like crime, stands for Climate Resistance Youth Movement) are self-described as ‘a friendly queer youth resistance community fighting oppressive systems.’
TWiSK suggests you visit the CYRM socials to make your own assessment of their motivation and tactics.
CYRM Twitter | CYRM website
