More than 700 people, from all corners of the globe, have called for a controversial Burnie councillor to resign.
The petition, which garnered 749 signatures, called Councillor Trent Aitken “to resign his position” effective immediately upon the tabling of the petition.
It was in response to “recent actions of hate speech, bullying and anti-discrimination on social media“, which often targeted those in the trans community.
As of Friday, June 20 there were 752 signatures.
The petition also requested that the council ask the Local Government Association (LGAT) and the Tasmanian government to give the Local Government Minister the ability to dismiss a councillor for breaching the Anti-Discrimination Act.
While the petition had hundreds of signatures from those who lived in the Burnie council area and Tasmania, many were also from across the seas.
Of the 749 signatures listed in a report to councillors, 21 were from the US, five were from the United Kingdom, and others were from Germany, Sweden, Brazil and Canada.
The report said the call for Cr Aitken to resign was his to consider.
“Cr Aitken is not lawfully compelled to resign as a result of the petition,” the report said.
The report also found that the government was “already working” to bring stronger reform to the Local Government Act when it comes to enforcing stronger powers and sanctions in response to councillor misconduct
“[The] council has been supportive of the specific behavioural reforms,” the report said.
The report recommended that the petition be received and that the concerns raised by the petitioners be noted and acknowledged.
It was also recommended that the lodger of the petition be advised that the council, “Has supported the proposed Local Government reforms relating to councillor conduct being considered by the government”.
The council is also set to provide a copy of the council’s report and the petition to the Director of Local Government.
Passing the Buck
Cr Aitken will turn his attention to deputy mayor Giovanna Simpson at Tuesday night’s meeting.
He has submitted a question on notice asking whether Cr Simpson should step down due to her running in the state election.
“Burnie’s deputy mayor appears to be running in the State election as a Liberal Candidate,” he said.
“Will the deputy mayor be resigning from Council like former Mayor Anita Dow did when running for the Labor Party?”
General Manager Shane Crawford said that while there had been some consideration of this matter at LGAT meetings, current legislation does not require a councillor to take leave while they stand for state or federal elections.
He said it was a matter for each councillor to consider.
“Cr Aitken’s question is framed on resignation. It is worth noting that it would not be reasonable to expect a councillor to resign completely while they ran in another election,” Mr Crawford said.
“As the outcome of the election is unknown and they are entitled to continue as a councillor if they are unsuccessful in another election.”
If Cr Simpson is successful in the snap July 19 election, Mr Crawford said should must then resign as a councillor.
He added that Cr Simpson had advised she would not resign at this point in time.
Cr Aitken was contacted for comment.
Source: The Advocate