Casey’s army cadet agenda: Council wants to bring back conscription

A MELBOURNE council that built a nativity scene “to stand up to terrorists” is calling for mandatory army service for every 18-year-old.

A COUNCIL that built a nativity scene “to stand up to terrorists” and banned Multicultural Affairs staff giving a briefing now wants mandatory army service for every 18-year-old.

On Tuesday night Casey Council passed a motion to lobby the federal government to make every 18-year-old serve two years in the army.

Casey Councillor Rex Flannery said the move would give aimless teens direction and purpose in life as well as strengthening the nation’s defences against terrorism.

“With all the stabbings and one punch attacks it is more dangerous walking the streets of Melbourne at night than being in Afghanistan,” Cr Flannery told the Herald Sun.

“We need to do something to fix the problems we have.”

Victorian Multicultural Commission chair Helen Kapalos.

Cr Flannery, who has not served in the army, said all seven councillors in the chamber passed his motion.

It is the latest in a list of controversial agendas the council has pushed in the last few months.

In June the council voted to build a $50,000 nativity scene the day after the Brighton terrorist attack, a move one councillor said was a blow against terrorists in an ongoing culture war.

In December the council barred Multicultural Affairs minister Robin Scott and the Victorian Multicultural Commission chair Helen Kapalos from briefing the council.

Cr Rosalie Crestani said the council spoke with the authority of more than 300,000 people and urged state and federal politicians to listen to their voices.

She said the nativity scene, to be placed at Bunjil Place community plaza in Narre Warren, sent a strong message of support of Christian values.

“We are in a culture war. It is time to stop walking on egg shells and acknowledge that we are a country built on Judeo-Christian values. It is those values that make us strong.

“This nativity scene will show that we will not bow to the threat of terrorism.”

Councillor Rosalie Crestani says a nativity scene shows Casey Council is fighting terrorists.

Cr Crestani, the deputy president of the Rise Up Australia political party, said those pushing multiculturalism were also part of the “culture war.”

“It is not about skin colour or country of origin, but opposition that we can somehow accept the cultural norms of others.”

Islamic Council of Victoria vice-president Adel Salman said Muslims would have no problem with the council celebrating the nativity scene.

“I’m quite happy for them to have a nativity and a depiction of Jesus, one of the great figures in world history.”

But Mr Salman said the views from some of the councillors were a throwback to a bygone era. “They have taken some shortsighted views to rally against multiculturalism — they are making an issue of something most of their electorate would not care about.”

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