Georgie Hart resigns from Unley Council days after a ‘disrespectful’ debate on Australia Day
An Unley councillor has resigned less than a week after alleging in a social media post her fellow members showed disrespect to an Indigenous elder during a Australia Day debate.
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An Unley councillor has resigned less than a week after alleging her fellow members showed disrespect to an Indigenous elder during a Australia Day debate last month.
Goodwood Ward councillor Georgie Hart resigned on September 30 – after claiming in a social media post that disrespect had been shown to elder Major “Moogy” Sumner AM.
Uncle Moogy had implored the council at its September 23 meeting not to reinstate Australia Day awards and celebrations to January 26, after being held a day earlier this year.
Cr Rebekah Rogers’ motion to reinstate the date was voted 8:4 in favour, after community consultation found 60.6 per cent of respondents supported the change.
Ms Hart wrote on Facebook, in a post since removed, that she “felt ashamed with what transpired” and the “disrespect” shown to Uncle Moogy who had to listen to the debate.
“Sad but inevitable that one of my co-councillors is now the poster girl for the far right,” Ms Hart, the former 2022 Greens candidate for Unley, wrote.
Cr Jack Gaffey raised her behaviour at this week’s meeting in a motion to censure Ms Hart for the comments she made while she was still an Unley councillor.
Cr Gaffey wrote her claims the Australia Day debate was shameful and had brought the council into disrepute and the councillor had openly disparaged a fellow member.
“No emails or phone calls were received from Uncle Moogy or the general public complaining of the elected members’ behaviour subsequent to this meeting,” his motion details.
Cr Gaffey wrote there were “several emails” from councillors regarding Ms Hart’s behaviour and “several complaints” regarding her social media post.
He claims Ms Hart breached the local government’s behavioural standards five times, including failing to act in a way that generates trust and confidence in the council and failing to show respect for others when making public comments on council decisions and matters.
Council members agreed to adjourn the motion until the November meeting to provide Ms Hart the right of reply.
Ms Hart resigned from the council on September 30, giving the required two weeks’ notice, and cited family and wellbeing reasons.
“I have made this decision in the best interests of both my family and my wellbeing. It was not an easy choice, but it is the right one at this time,” she said in a council statement.
The council will be required to hold a supplementary election to fill the vacancy.
Ms Hart was contacted for comment.
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