LOCAL same-sex marriage activist Robin Bristow says he feels let down by the region’s elected officials and their refusal to openly support same-sex marriage.
In a speech addressing event-goers at the Spring Carnival held in the Lions Park, Noosaville, on Saturday 24 October, Mr Bristow slammed local, state and federal government members for their lack of support.
“I was told by council they didn’t have time to look at this issue,” he said. “I was then told council will only look at issues that concern council.
“This would come as a surprise to most of you I am sure (as) we listen to council issue statements all the time about non-council matters.”
In his speech Mr Bristow said Councillor Tony Wellington told him to “play the game our way or you’re never going to get our support”.
Mr Bristow also claims Cr Wellington said council could be sued if they “comment on this issue”, a statement Cr Wellington strongly denies.
Cr Wellington said he “refutes” Mr Bristow’s assertions about what he has “supposedly” said, stating he had only suggested Mr Bristow was approaching his campaign from the “wrong angle”.
“This was in reference to (Mr Bristow’s) demand that council take a position on a matter over which it has no legislative jurisdiction,” he said.
“At no stage did I refer to council being sued over the issue. Indeed, that is an absurdity. And nor did I tell Mr Bristow that he had ’better play the game’.
“The real shame is that Mr Bristow is not aiding the marriage equality debate by these antics. Curiously, he seems to be at pains to alienate the very people from whom he is asking support. That’s a pity, because the issue should not devolve into wilful misrepresentations and verbal slanging matches.“
Cr Frank Wilkie was a guest speaker at the Spring Carnival event and said he personally believed marriage equality was “inevitable” but advocated need to target the right level of government for success.
“Skilled advocates campaigning for marriage equality who understand how governments work are applying pressure to the real seat of power, Malcolm Turnbull’s cabinet and his federal MPs,” Cr Wilkie said.
“Amending the Marriage Act is clearly a decision for the Federal Government and it could happen tomorrow if they wanted it to.“
Cr Wilkie said the recently de-amalgamated Noosa Council did not focus on debating and formulating policy positions on issues it had no control over.
“It’s still in the process of reviewing policies relevant to local government inherited from the Sunshine Coast Council,” Cr Wilkie said.
“Requests for support on all other issues requiring changes to federal laws are treated respectfully in the same way.
“In the meantime there is an enormous amount that can, and is, being done to ensure Noosa continues to be recognised as a welcoming and inclusive community. Issuing permits for rallies where diversity is celebrated and voices heard is just one small example.”
Cr Wilkie said he believed Noosa was a place where everyone could be appreciated for who they were, not who they loved, their religion or race.
“This welcoming atmosphere may be among the reasons why the Gay and Lesbian Tourism Association of Australia chose to host its AGM here recently,” he said.
