Council rejects display of crime petition

Gunnedah shire councillors have voted down a move to display an e-petition calling for more action against youth crime.

This despite the presence of Gunnedah Shire Council’s long-established Crime Prevention Working Group and council’s fierce advocacy to the state government on crime in rural communities like Gunnedah.

The motion raised by councillor Tammey McAllan called for the ‘Time for Change! Young Offenders Act NSW’ e-petition to be displayed at Gunnedah Shire Council’s customer service locations.

On Tuesday the petition reached the 20,000-signature milestone, meaning it must be scheduled for debate in the NSW Parliament.

Cr McAllan said council’s display of the petition would have offered members of the community the option to sign if they chose to, adding that elderly community members may not have the option to go online directly.

Many of those apposed to the idea were concerned about becoming too politically involved in the issue.

“I have no issues with people getting online and having their say,” councillor Linda Newell said.

“[But] council needs to stay neutral.”

The Gunnedah councillor was confused as to how the electronic-based petition would be displayed at council’s premises.

“If the concept is to print it out, you can’t do that, it’s an e-petition,” she said.

Petition brochures displayed in shopfronts across town do however feature a QR code which links to the e-petition.

Cr Cameron Moore also expressed his worry about the “intrinsic politics” already involved with the issue.

“As a council we need to be as a-political as possible,” he said.

Others suggested the petition was beyond the responsibility of local government.

Cr Robert Hoddle warned against backing “politically motivated things” and likened the proposal to council hypothetically supporting the anti-coal seam gas campaign in the region.

“It is not the role of council to back … politically motivated things,” he said. “We’re coming up to an election, this will be a big issue

“There are things that councils don’t do, they have to remain in a neutral position

“This petition would be available in other places in Gunnedah for people to go online and sign.

“It is not the position of someone at the library to guide someone through a petition … it’s not our role.”

Councillor McAllan said she was not asking for council to be involved in the debate but merely to provide access to information in the petition and assist those to who wish to be involved.

Cr McArthur questioned why council would not back the petition given the existing presence support of measures designed to curb anti-social activity.

“I don’t see this as political,” she said.

“We have a crime prevention working group as part of council.

“It’s about access.”

Gunnedah director community and development, Andew Johns, clarified that if a member of the public sought assistance at the library to access the e-petition, staff would show them how to find that information.

The ‘Time for Change! Young Offenders Act NSW’ e-petition was spurred by the death of a motorcyclist in Gunnedah earlier this year. The rider was allegedly struck by a speeding stolen car driven by a 14-year-old boy.

The petition calls on the NSW government to strengthen bail laws to prevent violent young offenders from re-offending; provide increased resources and support for police officers to effectively apprehend and prosecute offenders and to review the judicial system to prioritise community safety.