Guest Post: Vikki Campion – Council’s remit for gender diverse potholes


Not only do we have states which see themselves as walled-off fiefdoms, but now Greens-led councils that see themselves as masters of international intelligence, adept in all manner of military strategy, so much so they object to Australia’s nuclear submarines.

“If nuclear submarines enter Sydney Harbour, they will create a significant risk to human life if there is an accident, or they are attacked by an enemy,” the motion penned by Inner West Greens Councillor, slam poet and lawyer Louise Steer says.

An enemy attack on our navy means we are being invaded by those who wish to take Australia out and are unlikely to leave the Inner West in peace because of their progress on mural art and gender diversity.

What will save them? Their centrepiece policy issues to count backyard birds and trees? Their transition to the “circular” economy?

Does the Inner West genuinely think an invading force will battle cry using gender-neutral terms, count its electric vehicle charging stations, commend them on a job well done, and retreat? During the bushfires, slam poet Ms Steer berated the government to get “army and navy support”. Apparently, the military’s premier purpose was to protect us from fire.

Few things inspire pathos as the misplaced confidence of part-time local politicians believing they are better informed than national security strategists privy to intelligence briefings and educated in the latest nuclear technology.

This council, which at the same meeting next week will call for a 75 per cent emission reduction by 2030, wants zero emissions.

Well, if you want that, nuclear is the propulsion system to do it.

Their affinity for solar panels and wind won’t work on a submerged vessel, travelling in fluid 800 times more dense than air, tasked with traversing the world’s third-largest exclusive economic zone.

The Inner West Council is not alone in believing they are serious diplomatic players with a deep understanding of power reactors.

In June, the Australian Local Government Association representing more than 500 councils, moved to support the UN Treaty against Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as national local government policy.

The industry super fund of local government refuses to invest in uranium mining or nuclear.

Councils think it appropriate to direct ratepayer resources to act as a quasi federal Government.

Topping the Inner West’s obsession this year has been gender diversity. It has pondered the importance of equal ratios on local government boards and panels, even though women on the council itself outnumber men and ticked off a policy recently without a single KPI of how it will improve.

It will develop a checklist to “consider gender significance and impact when developing and resourcing strategies, grants and plans” and will give staff “unconscious bias training” while collating data on hirers of venues and grant recipients based on gender.

While councillors discussed it multiple times this year, only 23 of a constituency of 189,000 provided feedback when the policy went out for public comment.

A pothole to fix is a pothole to fix, a hall to use is a hall to use, regardless of sexual orientation or gender, but somehow now local infrastructure use is set to be a gauge on a social construct. If targets to “achieve holistic gender representation that includes transgender and genderdiverse/non-binary people” are such important use for ratepayers funds, then isn’t the freedom to frolic on such issues worth protecting?

In Russia, which already has nuclear submarines, LGBTI persons often cannot be open about themselves due to the risk of detention, torture or harassment.

Women in parts like the North Caucasus are virtually second-class people, still victims of honour killings.

China also has nuclear submarines – where the “missing girls” phenomenon sees the sex ratio as 113.6 males to every 100 females, with selective abortions due to gender preference, and where government textbooks still refer to gay and lesbian people as suffering from a “common psychosexual disorder”.

Nuclear submarines can stay underwater for years, limited only by their food supply and the tolerance of their submariners, as they recycle air and water. That “circular economy” the Inner West is so focused on, it’s already happening 200m below the surface of the South China Sea, but if there is one thing sure to bring them up, it’s being stuck in the crew’s mess with a performance poet from the Inner West.

Few things encapsulate the divide between bush and city as ratepayer funded, social pressure groups masquerading as being closest to the people. In contrast, rural councils focus on roads, water and waste management as their city cousins indulge in lengthy motions beyond their remit, while complaints about core services blow out.

Forever in history, countries have had a bad habit of trying to kill each other. In a world where democracy is becoming a fading phenomenon, the Inner West councillors would be better off with a nation that can defend their unique views.


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Cassie of Sydney
September 25, 2021 11:07 am

Excellent piece Vikki….as for ‘Women in parts like the North Caucasus are virtually second-class people, still victims of honour killings.”…no surprises there, that’s because these areas are dominated by the Greens’ favourite religious ideology. Many of our Greens councils also support the “BDS” against a democracy called Israel….and they always conveniently forget, of course, that honour killings have long been de rigueur in the Palestinian territories.

Oh and as for ” In a world where democracy is becoming a fading phenomenon“….please remind your other half that I and many others didn’t vote for zero emissions and he should remind that disgraceful scumbag of a PM of that fact.

Ellen of Tasmania
Ellen of Tasmania
September 25, 2021 11:12 am

If you understand ICLEI, you will understand our local councils.

It’s flattering little folk above and beyond their proper roles, pay grade and competence.

https://www.iclei.org/

https://www.icleioceania.org/

“ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 100+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. The ICLEI Oceania Regional Secretariat serves the interests and needs of local governments in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island Nations. “

Cassie of Sydney
September 25, 2021 11:43 am

And just remember…some Sydney council administrators earn more than the PM.

Cassie of Sydney
September 25, 2021 11:44 am

I loathe ALL government, local, state and federal….they’re all parasites.

Rabz
September 25, 2021 11:48 am

My local council is an abomination.

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 25, 2021 12:18 pm

Cassie of Sydneysays:
September 25, 2021 at 11:43 am
And just remember…some Sydney council administrators earn more than the PM.

I hate to be the perpetual pedant on this point, but while they might be paid more than the PM, they most certainly do not earn more.

Lee
Lee
September 25, 2021 12:19 pm

I am sure that in the event of a Chinese nuclear attack on Australia (which they were threatening the other day), the Chinese will hold off launching any strikes on “nuclear-free” councils in Sydney and Melbourne.
LOL.
If any Greens go onto an Australian nuclear submarine base or port to protest, I suggest they be summarily arrested and tried under military law.

Miss Anthropist
Miss Anthropist
September 25, 2021 12:23 pm

Got the Telecrap out of habit for the form guide. Got bored and read some of it.
It’s become a rag for fascists. I’m glad the pets shit on it.

Roger
Roger
September 25, 2021 12:26 pm

In a world where democracy is becoming a fading phenomenon, the Inner West councillors would be better off with a nation that can defend their unique views.

Democracy does not entail defending this stupidity but rather their right to enage in it.

Big difference.

Fair Shake
Fair Shake
September 25, 2021 12:27 pm

one thing sure to bring them up, it’s being stuck in the crew’s mess with a performance poet from the Inner West.

Love it. Well said Vikki.

Shy Ted
Shy Ted
September 25, 2021 12:30 pm

Get Bananaby onto it. Surely betraying his base can’t take up all his time.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 25, 2021 1:05 pm

Qwerty potholes are a thing!

Once got a letter into The Economist, before they turned communist. I said that councils and middle management were useful Darwinian selection devices for the human race. It’s like this: certain people are driven to acquire power. They will climb over the dead bodies of all their colleagues in order to get it. The middle-management version gave rise to Dilbert. At least though in councils the advantage of democracy is they have to be elected. The clueless ones may have just enough ability to get themselves elected to a local council, but then show themselves to be so hopeless that they can’t manage the next step into state parliament. Therefore the human race is protected from their ineptitude, although they usually make ratepayers’ lives miserable for what seems like an eternity.

Some years ago my local council produced an actual “Peak Oil” report (PDF). Then fracking was invented.

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
September 25, 2021 1:07 pm

‘Unconscious bias training’ is actually conscious bias training where a person distrusts their own judgements as something treacherous and instead deliberately favour the group or groups they have been told they were subconsciously biased against.

You are told you are unconsciously biased against, say gays, and instructed to focus on them more and undo past slights by giving them more.

Only an intellectual can be so bereft of intelligence not to foresee this.

Perfidious Albino
Perfidious Albino
September 25, 2021 1:16 pm

To be fair though, women in parts like North Balwyn are virtually second-class people if they haven’t had the jab, although we should at least be grateful that the ‘honour’ killings haven’t started, yet…

Tom
Tom
September 25, 2021 1:18 pm

Foreign policy is none of local government’s fucking business and any council passing motions on the subject is signalling to its ratepayers that their rates are too high and are being misused.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
September 25, 2021 1:27 pm

My local council is an abomination.

A Cthulhucil?

Flyingduk
Flyingduk
September 25, 2021 2:17 pm

Given the principle threat faced by the Australian ppl IS their own govt, it might be better if said gvt isn’t in possession of nuclear weapons?

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