International Men’s Day addition sparks Surf Coast council meeting debate

A local councillor has told his colleagues that “men also have rights” during a debate sparked by accusations of inequality and divisiveness by another councillor who later stormed out of the meeting.

Surf Coast Shire mayor Mike Bodsworth and deputy mayor Libby Stapleton. Picture: Brad Fleet.

A last-minute push for “equality” has seen International Men’s Day added to a local council’s $37,000 “awareness raising events calendar” that was labelled “woke” by a councillor who stormed out of the meeting soon after.

The Surf Coast Shire calendar was to feature 11 events, including IDAHOBIT Day, International Women’s Day, National Reconciliation Week, and First Nations-led Acknowledgement of January 26, the latter previously known as Pilk Purriyn.

But an 11th-hour amendment from Adrian Schonfelder saw International Men’s Day become the 12th event following a debate among six male councillors and one female at this week’s meeting.

Surf Coast council’s Adrian Schonfelder and Mike Bodsworth.

“Men also have rights and one thing I am very concerned about is the suicide rates of men, particularly young men, and the fact that men are reluctant to speak out about issues,” Mr Schonfelder said.

The calendar is an online list of events, rather than a physical product, with the annual $37,000 budget used to promote and deliver them.

Prior to the amendment’s introduction, Paul Barker, having just returned from a one-month suspension for misconduct, slammed the calendar and its failure to include IMD.

“It’s basically a woke calendar, a calendar that seeks to divide people based on race and sexual identity and a whole bunch of other elements,” he said.

“Women have issues, men have issues, and to elevate one over the other … is basically a kick in the face to all men.

“You either believe in equality or you don’t, simple as that.”

Paul Barker. Picture: Brad Fleet.

Deputy mayor Libby Stapleton, the only woman in attendance due to the absence of Liz Pattison, said the amendment had “come out of the blue”.

She asked chief executive Robyn Seymour whether IMD had been raised during community engagement, who in turn deferred to general manager of community life Damian Waight.

“To my knowledge, we didn’t receive any feedback or suggestions (for IMD),” he said.

Ms Stapleton said “men and women have different needs and should be respected and acknowledged equally”.

“But I think the reason we have International Women’s Day is because there is broad acknowledgment that for a long time there’s been a lot of work to try and provide equity for women,” she said.

Ms Stapleton ultimately supported the amendment, with mayor Mike Bodsworth the sole opponent.

Tensions flared shortly after when Mr Barker requested the cost of council’s new public lighting policy and guidelines.

When specifics could not be provided by Ms Seymour, Mr Barker said endorsing the policy would be “the most economically reckless you could do”.

Ms Stapleton immediately raised a point of order, citing Mr Barker’s failure to “treat others, including members of council staff, with dignity, fairness, objectivity, courtesy”.

Libby Stapleton. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Bodsworth backed the point of order and asked Mr Barker to speak “without showing disrespect to the organisation”.

An awkward silence came before Mr Barker muttered “this is anti-democratic” and left the meeting with two agenda items remaining.

“My focus remains on transparent and well-informed decision making for the community,” he later said.

“I support robust and civil discussion about how public funds are spent.”

Meanwhile, there has been another hiccup in the process to fill a vacancy on the Surf Coast council.

Eric Menogue failed to confirm he remained qualified to be a councillor within the required time frame following Tuesday’s countback that was triggered by the resignation of Rebecca Bourke.

Another countback has been scheduled for Wednesday, in which the two remaining Torquay ward candidates – Phoebe Crockett and Martin Duke – will feature.

Originally published as International Men’s Day addition sparks Surf Coast council meeting debate