A local councillor has hit out at his colleagues over a push to spend $45,000 painting “progressive pride flags” on pedestrian crossings.
Merri-bek City Council is set to vote on a plan to paint rainbow flags at two of a possible eight locations in Melbourne’s inner north, after a Greens motion, seconded by a Labor councillor, received near-unanimous support earlier this year.
But independent councillor Oscar Yildiz, who was absent at the previous meeting, said ratepayers’ money should not be spent on “symbolic gestures” during such tough economic times.
“Symbolic gestures like this need to be weighed against the cost and the benefit to the wider community,” Mr Yildiz told 3AW’s Tom Elliott.
“We have a responsibility to spend ratepayers’ money wisely, and I just can’t justify spending $45,000 to paint two rainbow flags.
“I mean, times are tough (with) the cost of living, households are tightening their belts, and as councillors, we must do the same.”
Mr Yildiz stressed that he was “not against the LGBTQIA+ community” and was a supporter of “their rights and freedoms”, but it was a question of principle.
“It’s not about opposing the LGBTQI+ community. It’s about making responsible decisions with limited funds. Some could argue it’s only 45 grand, but that’s ratepayers’ money,” he said.
“Our focus should be on getting the basics right: rates, roads, rubbish and delivering quality services. We can’t always say we’re doing that well, so maybe that’s where our attention needs to be, not on rainbow flags.”
Merri-bek City Council will vote on Wednesday to approve a list of eight possible locations for the “progressive pride flags”, with the plan stating there would be one site selected south of Bell Street and another to the north following community consultation.
The plan claims painting the “progressive pride flags” – also known as the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag – will have a “positive community impact and demonstrate council’s support for the LGBTIQA+ community.”.
“Rainbow and progressive pride flags have been incorporated into infrastructure throughout many cities both internationally and within Australia. Painted flags have successfully created focal points for communities, where people go to visit,” the motion states.
The motion claims the flags would support the Merri-bek council’s commitment (listed in Council Plan 2021-2025) to “enhance social cohesion”, including through “measures to address racism and LGBTIQA+ discrimination”, as well as the Moving Around Merri-bek Strategy, which commits the council to “work to make our streets and public spaces are safe for all people and inclusive of all genders, backgrounds, and abilities”.
But Councillor Yildiz said the council needed to consider the precedent they were setting.
“When’s this all going to end?” he asked.
“I’m a Carlton supporter, so should I now move a motion to paint the Carlton flag at key crossings, because I feel unrepresented or discriminated?
“What about the Australian flag? What about the Aboriginal flag? What about the Greek flag at Sparta Place in Brunswick? I mean, this is a place that’s deeply meaningful to the Greek community, so let’s, let’s paint a flag there.
“The precedent this sets is something we need to consider carefully.”
