City of Ballarat to debate banning nuclear weapons

Ballarat businesses stuck in lockdown have slammed council’s plans to debate banning nuclear weapons.

A City of Ballarat councillor says he is embarrassed by council’s move to debate banning nuclear weapons.

Council will recommend to back the prohibition of nuclear weapons and endorse an advocacy letter to the Australia Local Government Association on Wednesday night.

But councillor Ben Taylor, a former mayor, says he is ashamed it is appearing on council’s agenda.

“Business are crying out for support and council is prioritising nuclear weapons rather than a pandemic,” he said.

Former Ballarat mayor Ben Taylor. Picture supplied.

“Businesses are crying out for support and council is prioritising nuclear weapons rather than a pandemic.

“This is embarrassing, council shouldn’t be focused on petty distractions that we as a council have no power over.”

Cr Taylor said people in Ballarat had been struggling since they were forced to return to lockdown last week.

He said council should deal with issues at its doorstep and not those on the world stage.

“We are in the middle of a lockdown, people are struggling with being at home, and out of work, and council’s dealing with issues that aren’t even remotely related to Ballarat,” he said.

“Wasting council time and resources on an idealistic crusade is a slap in the face to the thousands suffering in Ballarat right now.”

Bruce Crawford says Ballarat Council’s anti-nuclear push is shameful during a pandemic.

Ballarat Ratepayers Association president Bruce Crawford said the recommendation was offensive.

“If you are going to bring politics into local government, then Ballarat isn’t for you,” he said.

“Minor parties know they can’t win votes at federal level, so they try and dictate their unrepresentative policies through local government. Councils have zero say over foreign affairs.

“What about our potholes, what about our empty shops, why not listen to the community for a change.

“Who in their right mind would think dealing with nuclear weapons is more important than Covid right now?”

Carmel West from the Turret Cafe said council should be doing more for suffering businesses and Ballarat should be the priority.

“This is tone deaf, council has zero awareness about the climate we are in — businesses are at breaking point, we need more support,” she said.

“Ballarat should be the priority, businesses are closing across town.”

Ballarat Genesis Gym owner Mel Tempest said debating nuclear weapons was disgusting, considering how many people were suffering locally.

“Ballarat businesses are shutting down, many of them will never re-open,” she said.

“What the hell is going on? The last time checked Ballarat doesn’t have an army.

“That council thinks that it (banning nuclear weapons) is more important than businesses that have been here for 20-30 years.

“That is not going to wash with a lot of people, there are so many more pressing agendas.”

Ballarat mayor Daniel Moloney said he had not decided whether he would support the recommendation or not.

“I have no problem with councillors bringing a diverse range of issues to council,” he said.

“Deciding what is a local issue is something that we struggle with a lot.

“Deciding what sits in the advocacy corner and what topics sit in the doing corner is tough.

“The nature is we have to advocate on a whole range of issues to State and Federal Governments.”