Nowra: Shoalhaven councillors to vote on Yes campaign poster motion

A push for ‘Yes’ flags and posters to be installed across Nowra’s CBD in support of the Voice referendum has sparked debate, with some Shoalhaven councillors clashing over the proposal. Have your say.

South coast councillors have clashed over a proposal to display Yes flags and posters in support of the Voice referendum in Nowra’s CBD, with some saying it was an ‘out of touch’ idea with the money better spent on community issues.

Shoalhaven Council will vote on a motion by The Greens mayor Amanda Findley and Labor councillors Gillian Bond, Matthew Norris, Tonia Gray and John Kotlash on Monday night , calling on council to support voting yes in the upcoming Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum set to take place later this year.

If voted through, Shoalhaven Council will set aside $3000 from its yearly budget to install Yes flags and posters throughout Nowra’s CBD during the month of the referendum, according to meeting papers.

However, Liberal deputy mayor, Paul Ell has labelled the motion as an “out of touch” pro-Yes vanity project, further noting council would be better spending its budget on local issues.

“Our community expects the council to be focused on getting on top of our budget issues and fixing the roads,” he said.

Paul Ell has labelled Shoalhaven mayor Amanda Findley's voice idea as an "out of touch vanity project".

“At a time when our community is struggling through a cost-of-living crisis and when council is cash strapped, it is extraordinary that Amanda Findley wants to spend our ratepayer’s money to push support for the Yes campaign.”

Responding to the claims, Mrs Findley told this publication the money needed for the proposal was extremely little.

“Councillor Ell has chosen to go on an offensive, personal attack and has tried to mislead the community into thinking that council would spend more than the minuscule amount of $3000 that we already set aside in the promotions budget,” she said.

Mrs Findley said she believed the motion would pass easily during the meeting.

“At the moment, there could be no greater action than supporting the referendum as it is a nation building step towards real reconciliation and self determination for First Nations people,” she said.

Shoalhaven City Council mayor Amanda Findley. Picture: Supplied

The Shoalhaven mayor also noted the idea presented a great opportunity to support indigenous based organisations in the area.

“It is not okay for the council to not support our First Nations community during this difficult time by promoting organisations,” she said.

However, Mr Ell said there were better ways to support indigenous organisations in the Shoalhaven than with a Yes poster campaign.

“Our community are more than capable of deciding for themselves how to vote in the upcoming Voice referendum without Amanda Findley and Labor and Greens Councillors pushing a one-sided point of view down their throat,” he said.

Meeting papers also state the motion would amplify the activities of other local organisations which are also supporting the Yes campaign through councils communication channels and council would inform the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader of the passage of the motion.