Jewish jibe shocks meeting

A COUNCILLOR’S reference to the holocaust outraged councillors and the gallery at Monday night’s Greater Dandenong Council meeting.
Cr Maria Sampey offended many in the gallery, as well as Jewish councillor Ros Blades, with a sweeping statement making reference to the holocaust.
Cr Sampey described mayor Pinar Yesil’s motion to reform council accessibility, transparency and accountability as “dictatorial”. “This notice of motion is 3D,” she said. “Dictatorial, draconian and divisive. What will you want us to do next? Put tattoos on our arms? I’m sure that I would be against that, not to mention councillor Ros Blades.”
Cr Blades jumped to her feet, calling a point of order and demanding an apology.
“I want an apology,” she said. “I have relatives with tattoos on their arms.”
Cr Sampey quickly withdrew her statement, but members of the gallery yelled abuse towards her.
Many were aware of Cr Blades’ faith, following her ‘offering of prayer’ on behalf of the Jewish community before the meeting.
One resident yelled, while others shook their heads.
Speaking with the Star on Tuesday, Cr Sampey was quick to take back her statement. “I didn’t mean it like that,” she said. “People took it the wrong way. I was just trying to say that they were trying to keep tabs on us.”
Cr Yesil said that Cr Sampey’s comments were inappropriate.
“I have taken a number of telephone calls from very distressed residents who believe that she should be disciplined,” Cr Yesil said. “Her comments about the tattoos were not only out of line but outrageous.”
– Melissa Meehan