Yarra, Moreland, Darebin: councils protester climate training plan slammed

A plan by three of Melbourne’s inner-city councils to run courses to train climate change protesters has come under fire.

Demonstrators stage a sit-in on a road during a Extinction Rebellion protest in Melbourne in 2019.

Inner-city councils have been slammed for planning to run courses to train climate change protesters at a time when budgets are stretched.

Greens-dominated Yarra, Moreland and Darebin councils have joined forces for the nine-session program, proposed to run from April.

A City of Yarra notice said participants will get skills to “run effective campaigns, use social media … to reach people from a range of backgrounds and ensure your actions have the most impact”.

They will also “explore what collective local action and advocacy can look like in our cities”.

Yarra City Council Mayor Cr Gabrielle de Vietri said the program aims to support locals to “mobilse and engage” with climate change.

“This series is part of our Climate Emergency Plan, unanimously adopted by Council in 2020,” she said. “An important priority is to mobilise and engage the community on climate change. We are all in this together, and to tackle climate change, we need everyone to play their part.

“The Climate Action Program aligns with Council’s Climate Emergency Plan and focuses on supporting people to come together and take effective climate action, whether this be through conversations , education, local projects or advocacy campaigns.”

All three councils have ­declared “climate emergencies”, which involve plans to divert funds to improve cycling infrastructure and promote renewable energy, electric ­vehicles, green space and lower carbon emissions.

The image used to advertise the program shows a climate change protester.

Yarra, Moreland and Darebin councils are running a climate change activism program. Source: Yarra City Council website

Yarra’s council website advertised the climate emergency plan, which was adopted last year despite the pandemic leaving the council with little funds to spare.

Ratepayers Victoria president Dean Hurlston said councils should stick to advocacy not activism. “(Climate change) is an important issue but right now holding on to your job and saving your business are the No. 1 concerns for Victorians,” he said.

“Advocacy is not activism. ­It is the role of councils to advocate issues not create activists. It’s a breach of trust and public money.”

Yarra Residents Collective founder and local resident Adam, who asked that his surname not be used, said ratepayer money should ensure core services were delivered before “pet projects”.

“This is another tone-deaf moment from Yarra City Council,” he said. “There are overflowing bins in Yarra; council needs to go back to ­delivering basic services properly instead of cutting those services and converting them to their own pet projects.”

But Victorian Greens deputy leader and state MP for Melbourne Ellen Sandell said all levels of government should work together on climate.

“The climate crisis affects us all: from more extreme bushfires, to impacts on our health, agriculture and more,” she said. “That’s why it’s important that all levels of government, ­including local councils, work together on climate solutions.”

Darebin mayor Lina Messina said: “Council has long prioritised working with the community on effective action to address climate change, ­including in its council plan, its budget and its climate emergency plan.”

Last month the City of Yarra was under fire for advertising for a “climate emergency artist” with the $72k salary paid by taxpayers through the Working for Victoria program.

After the story was published by the Sunday Herald Sun, the ad was removed pending a review to ensure it met “the needs of the Yarra small business community”.

Moreland council was contacted for comment.