Mildura city council to change Christian prayer to “more inclusive affirmation”

A local MP blasted Mildura council for “trashing traditions” and has implored voters to think “very seriously” about who they elect.

Mallee MP Anne Webster has accused Mildura rural city council of trashing traditions after it decided to “(recognise) the diversity of beliefs” in the area at the start of its meetings, rather than just say a Christian prayer.

On Wednesday night, council voted 6-3 to remove the prayer in favour of a “more inclusive affirmation” option, with councillors Glenn Milne, Troy Bailey and Ian Arney voting against.

Dr Webster rejected claims it is “more inclusive” not to have a prayer, saying it was “tradition”.

“I’ve been reading through some of the parliamentary history writing on the federal and the state use of parliamentary prayers and there is a lot of tradition there,” Dr Webster said.

“I don’t see why councils at a local level feel that they have the right to trash those traditions for the councillors who will be coming after them.”

Anne Webster blasted the Mildura council for “trashing traditions”

She said the council should instead focus on cost of living issues and healthcare delivery.

“People need to start thinking very seriously about ... who they elect onto councils,” Dr Webster said.

“They elect woke ideologues, who get on to the council’s for matters that are not operational, which is what councils should be about.

“My hope is that the Mildura residents will think twice at the next election and really consider who they want to be representing them.”

A council spokeswoman has said the council had not ruled out including a Christian prayer in the new “affirmation” and that the community would be consulted in regards to the change.

Councillor Jodi Reynolds, who put the motion forward, was pleased with the result.

“I’m very happy with the result, I think what we find with the Mildura community is that it’s quite progressive, and it’s important going forward that we honour that,” she said.

“Going forward we will start working on the wording of the new affirmation, there some councils out that already have affirmations.

“I’m also happy to have anyone from the community put their two cents.”

The motion, which was seconded by councillor Jason Modica, says councils are “moving away from a traditional prayer to either an affirmation statement … or a statement of inclusion and recognition of diversity”.

According to the motion, a sample of 28 local governments in Victoria, a quarter of councils begin their meetings with a prayer, while a further quarter begin with a statement of commitment and diversity.

All 28 councils include an Acknowledgment to Country.

It’s not the first time the voicing of Christian prayers in government has been debated.

In June last year Boroondara councillors rejected a bid to dump the statement from their meetings after a heated debate.

Both state and federal parliaments have the Lord’s Prayer prayer at the start of sittings.