Proposal to rehang the Queen’s portrait labelled ‘ridiculous’
A Tea Tree Gully councillor wants this portrait of the Queen to be rehung in the chamber.
North & North East
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A push to rehang a portrait of the Queen in the Tea Tree Gully Council chambers has been labelled “a waste of time” by an elected member.
Cr Rob Unger wants the council to once again display a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in time for the Queen’s Birthday public holiday on June 10.
The portrait was removed from the chamber several years ago during renovations and never returned.
It now hangs in back offices at the council’s civic centre.
Cr Unger said the Queen had served the nation with “grace and distinction” and that the council should proudly display her picture in the chamber until Australia was no longer a constitutional monarchy.
“As a council we acknowledge and recognise our history,” Cr Unger said.
“Yet we fail to demonstrate that we are a part of the Commonwealth, that we are a constitutional monarchy, with our laws and governance deeply entrenched within the Westminster system.”
He was happy to see the original portrait rehung, or for the council to source a new picture.
Cr Unger went one step further, suggesting a portrait of Her Majesty should be “proudly displayed within all government institutions”.
However, fellow councillor Olivia Savvas said the move was “ridiculous” and of “no benefit to the community”.
“When Cr Lucas Jones told me I thought he was joking,” Cr Savvas said, while stressing she was not a Republican.
“I was laughing about it. It’s beyond belief.
“It is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard, it is such a waste of time.
“She literally has no role other than a figurative one in Australia.”
Cr Savvas said she could not understand the thinking behind Cr Unger’s proposal.
“Everyone I mentioned it to … everybody laughed out loud,” she said.
“I’ve not spoken to anyone who thought it was a great idea.
“It will be an interesting debate that’s for sure, I can’t imagine it would get up.”
A vote on Cr Unger’s proposal will be held at the council meeting on Tuesday night.
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