Mayor Clover Moore spending $100k of ratepayers’ money campaigning for same sex marriage “yes” vote

THE City of Sydney has officially thrown its support behind marriage equality after unanimously passing a motion to provide financial and symbolic support to the movement.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore is spending almost $100,000 of ratepayers’ money campaigning for the same sex marriage “yes” vote. Picture: Peter Parks

THE City of Sydney has officially thrown its support behind marriage equality after unanimously passing a motion to provide financial and symbolic support to the movement.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said it was “shameful” that the Federal government didn’t have the “conviction and courage” to deal with the matter in parliament.

Cr Moore addressed a fully packed chamber tonight, which included Independent Sydney MP and co-chair of AME Alex Greenwich and Irish marriage equality campaigner Tiernan Brady.

Deputy Lord Mayor Kerryn Phelps said the same sex marriage bill would be a “totemic piece of legislation”.

Alex Greenwich. Picture: Troy Snook / News Corp Australia

Clover Moore City of Sydney will spend $32,000 on a letter to all residents to vote yes. Picture: John Grainger

The “no” campaign would see the LGBTI community “barraged with damaging representations of same sex relationships”, she said.

The vote comes after it emerged the Lord Mayor was seeking to spend almost $100,000 of ratepayers’ money campaigning for the same sex marriage “yes” vote, with half the funding going to an organisation run by Mr Greenwich.

Ms Moore’s City of Sydney will now spend $32,000 on a junk mail letter to all residents and businesses asking them to vote “yes” in the upcoming postal survey.

Prior to the vote, Liberal councillor Christine Forster urged respectful debate on both sides of the issue.

But she said it wasn’t about herself and her long term partner Virginia Edwards.

“We’re a couple of old bags who want to get married, sure,” Cr Forster told the chamber, saying the vote was also about future generations who needed to see all relationships validated.

Virginia Edwards and partner City of Sydney Liberal councillor Christine Forster. Picture: AAO

The motion was passed unanimously by council, and was received by a round of applause from the chamber.

Under council’s plan there will also be $16,000 splurged on 164 banners advertising City of Sydney’s support for same sex marriage. City of Sydney will fly 99 rainbow banners around the city and provide a platform for “yes” campaigners at official events.

It will also advertise “yes” campaign activities though City of Sydney’s bulging media and communications team and give campaigners free use of public venues to spread their message.

A document, authorised by Ms Moore and outlining the spending, makes no mention of giving a platform to those with differing views on the issue.

“It is vital that all Australians participate in the survey, despite its flaws. It is equally vital that the survey result in a resounding “yes” vote,” the document says.

A further $46,000 in grants will be handed to Australian Marriage Equality (AME), co-chaired by Mr Greenwich, Ms Moore’s close political ally. It will enable AME to continue using a ratepayer-owned “equality” shop on Oxford St and campaign from kiosks in the city centre.

Mr Greenwich is MP for Sydney and previously ran for Ms Moore’s political party.

City of Sydney has given tens of thousands of dollars to Australian Marriage Equality over the past few years, including grants “in kind”, allowing it to use publicly-owned properties to operate from.

A further $46,000 in grants will be handed to Australian Marriage Equality. Picture: Mark Kolbe

There is no suggestion of impropriety and Mr Greenwich has denied being involved in previous requests for funding.

He did co-sign a letter from AME to City of Sydney asking for the latest support.

A spokesman for Ms Moore said last night: “Given there are more LGBTIQ people in the City of Sydney than any other local government area in Australia, the City will continue to support AME as it campaigns for legislative change on marriage equality in the Australian Parliament.

“Clover Moore’s association with Alex Greenwich MP is well-known. Clover first became aware of Alex through his work for Australian Marriage Equality and endorsed him to succeed her because he shared her commitment to social justice, human rights and liveable sustainable cities.

“It should not be surprising that the Lord Mayor and Alex Greenwich continue to liaise on a broad range of issues affecting the people of Sydney.”