Jacinta Price slams Sydney Council for pushing Voice ‘propaganda’

Street banners, community events and communication campaigns will be funded as part of the council’s pledge towards a Yes vote in the referendum – prompting a clash between local councillors.

The City of Sydney has come under fire for voting to pump more than $500,000 of ratepayers’ money into supporting the ‘yes’ campaign for a voice to parliament.

Local councillors and businesses slammed the decision, while shadow Indigenous Australians minister Jacinta Price accused the council of wasting ratepayers money on “propaganda” during a cost of living crisis.

A memo issued by the council’s chief executive has revealed the spending package includes $260,000 for a communications and engagement campaign, $160,000 for street banners, and up to $90,000 to support up to three not-for-profit community events in landmark council venues such as Town Hall.

Library resources will also be committed to the campaign, community workshops will be held and $20,000 will be waived by the council for the use of local community centres.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore supported the funding pledge.

The funding pledge was made after a vote by nine of 10 City of Sydney councillors at this month’s council meeting.

Liberal councillor Shauna Jarrett – who voted against it – raised concerns the council’s pledge would mean parties from “other sides of the campaign” would be “rejected” from using council facilities.

“In its current forum, this memorandum would only enable a campaign for one side of the voice and directly fund only one group from within the community,” she said.

City of Sydney councillor Shauna Jarrett.

Ms Jarrett tried to move an amendment for council resources to be allocated on a “on a fair and unbiased basis” rather than only supporting activities to support the ‘yes’ campaign.

Labor councillor Linda Scott described Ms Jarrett’s proposed changes as “one of the most small minded amendments” she had seen during her decade-long tenure on the council.

“We are a local government empowered by a local government act in this state to ensure that we can take views that represent the views of our community and so we should do this more than anything else,” she said.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore also rejected Ms Jarrett’s proposed amendments.

“It’s about time we recognise the first peoples and establish a body that enables them to let successive governments know what their views are about decisions that are about them,” she said.

Linda Scott has backed the Yes vote in the referendum.

Opposition Indigenous Australians minister Jacinta Price also spoke out against the council’s funding pledge, saying it was “inexcusable” the council was wasting money on “propaganda” during a cost of living crisis.

“This is just another example of inner city elites wasting time and money to make themselves feel good with no regard or for the real problems facing indigenous people in rural and remote Australia,” she said.

“Sydney City Council needs a wake up call, they need to get back to the local matters they were elected to deal with.”

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley said that this was a totally inappropriate misuse of ratepayers’ money and that councils should focus on rates, rubbish and roads.

“The upcoming referendum is an opportunity for the Australian people to have their say. Private organisations and companies will take positions and that is up to them, but the second we start to see rates collected by councils being misdirected from hardworking Australians to these campaigns, we are on a very slippery slope.

“It can’t be right that ratepayer money is being misused in this way and I just urge state and local governments to have a bit of respect in not imposing their views on the constituents they serve – this is for Australians to decide, not governments.”

The funding commitment comes after a challenging start to 2023 for the council which has included residents threatening to “boycott” paying rates due to bins not being collected by garbage truck drivers taking industrial action.

Alan Lo, who runs Joe Black Cafe near Hyde Park, believes the council’s funding commitment towards the referendum would be better spent supporting local businesses.

“The money could be better spent because it’s life and death for a lot of businesses,” he said.

“We don’t know how long we’re going to be able to stay in the city because of the cost of running a business when there’s less people around.

“It’s government money that’s being given to them by ratepayers. I think everyone knows about The Voice already.

“More money should be spent driving people to the city.”

Council resources and facilities will be committed to the campaign.

The council’s funding package is one of the largest commitments made by a local government body towards a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum.

Several other councils including Lane Cove are also considering running campaigns and events to raise awareness about the referendum.

Inner West Council is meanwhile training up to 1000 local residents in a “civic education program”.

In regional NSW, Dubbo Council will this week consider a motion by Labor councillor Pam Wells to “develop a program centred on information, education and participation to support the community to make an informed decision” on the referendum.

In a statement, a City of Sydney spokeswoman said the council has “supported the long campaign for the Australian constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

“Regardless of their position on the referendum, groups can apply to use our community venues following our usual process, which includes fee waivers for eligible groups,” she said.

“Events must meet existing inclusion and equity principles outlined in relevant City of Sydney plans.

“The City of Sydney will also sponsor venue hire for up to three not-for-profit community events in support of the ‘yes’ campaign at our landmark venues.”

A spokesman for the Yes campaign said, “Yes23 supports all Australian individuals and organisations engaging with the campaign, and of course we welcome all forms of support for constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament.”

“All organisations have an important role to play and are welcome to the conversation, which is about supporting better outcomes on the ground in communities. We respect the right of everyone and every organisation to decide on if and how they contribute.”