By Casey Neill
A push for Greater Dandenong Council to publicly stand beside its African community has fallen flat.
At the Monday 29 January council meeting, Councillor Matthew Kirwan proposed the move but did not receive support from any of his 10 colleagues.
The motion lapsed but he told the Journal he would try again at the next meeting, on Monday 12 February.
“I really don’t understand the lack of support,” Cr Kirwan said.
“If I had an opportunity to speak I would have told of the Greater Dandenong residents – those of African background and those not – who approached me to do this.”
The motion also proposed expressing support for constructive state and federal government action to reduce crime committed by those from the African community, “including not only enforcement but also to better rehabilitate offenders and to prevent crime by early intervention”.
The final element was asking politicians to refrain from language that could lead to fear and division.
Cr Kirwan said his motion followed “sensationalising” of crime by Victorians of African background by some politicians and media outlets over the past two months.
“Given…the large amount of people with African backgrounds in Greater Dandenong – almost 2000 – it was very important to me to send a message to them that Greater Dandenong stands with them,” he said.
Cr Jim Memeti said he didn’t support the motion because the issue was state-wide.
“We know there’s a problem but it’s no bigger in Dandenong than it is in Footscray or Richmond or anywhere else in Victoria,” he said.
He said he wasn’t sure what the motion would achieve but would “look at it again with an open mind”.
“Cr Kirwan is pretty keen on putting it back up again,” he said.
“If it’s going to be for a positive outcome I’m happy to chat to him.”
