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Typhoon donation ‘not urgent’

Four Bayswater councillors voted not to fast-track a $10,000 donation to the Philippines disaster fund, with two arguing the timing was unimportant.

In order to deal with the motion immediately the issue had to be deemed “urgent business”: Councillors Chris Cornish, Michelle Sutherland, Mike Sabatino and Mike Anderton believed it wasn’t.

“I’m not against the intent,” Cr Cornish said. “But there is no urgency, the Philippines will need aid and money for years going forward.”

He argued that technically, under local government guidelines, the item couldn’t be tabled as an urgent matter.

Cr Sabatino also argued the funds could be delayed.

Stunned, Cr Terry Kenyon said there was around 4500 Filipinos in Bayswater requesting help for relatives.

“People are starving, there is no food or water, this is pretty urgent,” he said.

“This council has been one of the the leaders in multiculturalism and Bayswater has become a bit of a centre for the Filipino community in Perth.

“We need to get humanitarian aid out there.”

After the item was approved as urgent business, all councillors voted to donate $10,000 to the Red Cross.

The council has previously donated money to help overseas disasters, including the Haiti Earthquake appeal, Pakistan floods and the Abruzzo Earthquake.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

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One response to “Typhoon donation ‘not urgent’”

  1. Chris Cornish Avatar
    Chris Cornish

    Whilst reluctant to let the facts get in the way of a good story, to imply in this story that I saw no urgency in funds and assistance getting to the Philippines is plain wrong. Clearly there is. My debate was centered over whether the item could be tabled at the meeting by being deemed ‘urgent business’. The Standing Orders state under 4.6 (1) that an item may be deemed ‘urgent business’ only when, “if not dealt with at the meeting, are likely to i) have a significant adverse effect (financially or otherwise) on the local government; or (ii) result in contravention of a written law”. At the time of debate I failed to see how the donation motion qualified under either of those rules and hence be discussed at that meeting as opposed to the one in 3 weeks time.

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