Several Burnie City councillors are considering lodging Code of Conduct complaints against outspoken and unapologetic fellow councillor Trent Aitken in the wake of his recent public comments attracting trans people
But the “Boy from Burnie” says he has “never felt so much love from his community” since his Facebook post that stated a transgender woman was still a man.
Cr Aitken on Tuesday said he was simply expressing what many in the city already thought, and while some may take offence, it was not illegal to speak the truth.
“Where were all the transgender people 10 years ago before it was trendy,” Cr Aitken said. “The support I have got from the community since I made the comments is phenomenal. There is a witch hunt to remove me from the council, and there has been since day one.”
“Several councillors take offence to anything I say to ensure anything I do in my private life makes its way into council.”
Deputy Mayor Giovanna Simpson and councillors Amina Keygan and Chris Lynch were quick to post in response to Cr Aitken’s anti-trans remarks.
They have since confirmed formal complaints were being considered.
“There is a difference between them commenting on something I have said and going to the council to cause trouble for me,” Cr Aitken said. “They apologise to the community saying they have been contacted by people who have been hurt and offended by what I say.”
“I do not believe they receive more than a handful of complaints from others — that is, if they even get any at all.”
A Burnie resident, who took issue with what Cr Aitken wrote, contacted The Advocate to say the $93 fee associated with lodging a private ratepayer complaint with Burnie City Council was putting people off from doing so.
“Trent Aitken is clearly in violation of multiple points of the councillor’s Code of Conduct, and this should be followed up,” the ratepayer said.
But he said the $93 fee associated with lodging one as a member of the public would deter many.
“While I understand the fee is to stop people wasting the council’s time, I do wonder if that is putting people off from complaining.”
“I also do not want to waste my money putting forward a complaint if there are other people already filing the same complaint.”
At the same time, Equality Tasmania spokesperson Rodney Croome is gathering signatures on a pledge to remove anti-trans hate from the federal election campaign.
So far, candidates from all sides of politics have signed the pledge, including Nick McKim, Andrew Wilkie, and Bridget Archer.
Source: The Advocate