Let me start off my first column of the New Year with two major admissions. Firstly, I support the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. I have followed them since as far back as I can remember. My earliest memories were of Manly being an attractive and creative attacking team – and I probably was attracted to them winning matches and premierships in the 70s.
My second admission is that I don’t think the annual Australian of the Year Award – which has been handed out since 1960 – should go to a sportsperson just for being a great sportsperson. We have had 14 sportspeople win the award – that’s 25 per cent of all Australia Day Awards. Since 1984 we have had five permanent captains of the Australian Cricket Team (we have had more Prime Ministers in that time) and three of those have taken the title of Australian of the Year. Now don’t get me wrong – I love playing and watching sport. I am a member of the Sydney Cricket Ground and applied for membership for all of my children shortly after they were born (the waiting list is about 13 years). I just think that high-achieving sportspeople are very good and dedicated at playing a sport – which is a wonderful personal achievement and congratulations to them – but do they make such a significant difference to our society that they deserve to be awarded as the best Australian? I personally think that the charity workers and the researchers and the scientists are making a significant improvement to the lives of people into the future. Think of winners such as Fiona Wood and Fred Hollows and the first winner, Sir Macfarlane Burnet.
I make these two highly contentious admissions for no other reason than to demonstrate how wonderful it is to live in a country with free speech. I can have opinions and views and express those without fear of physical retribution (I admit that people do laugh at me for following Manly). Having just returned from being in Paris when the Charlie Hebdo attacks occurred, it immediately brought to the forefront the issue of Freedom of Speech. I participated in the Unity March with two million people who obviously thought enough of the concept of Freedom of Speech that they were prepared to turn up on a cold wintery day and stand up for what we would think is a basic human right.
Far from trying to suppress the thoughts of residents, Councils across the state are constantly putting on exhibition a range of pending decisions and policy changes. I actively encourage feedback on items on public exhibition – or in fact on any Council issue. Councils want residents to tell them what they think and what their opinion is. It doesn’t mean that every resident will receive the outcome they desire but every resident has the chance to be heard – again without fear of any retribution.
I have been in many countries where it is normal to see Police or Special Forces armed at posts with sub-machine guns over their shoulder. In some areas I have had the distinct feeling that a glance the wrong way – or a mild comment – will see me in trouble with the authorities. As we celebrated all that is great in Australia this week one of the aspects of our nation that makes me proud to be an Aussie is that we still have a simple sense of naivety and simplicity. Unfortunately, the tragic Lindt Café incident means that we may need to slowly lose that more simplistic approach to life. I was recently asked if security screening at our airport means that Dubbo has lost its innocence and, in some small way, I think it has. We are growing up as a city which brings with it many benefits – but unfortunately there are some downsides.
Whilst most Aussies – and Dubbonians – talk of the desire to have Freedom of Speech and assume we do, there are always restrictions and responsibilities. At the beginning of every Council meeting we have an agenda item called “Public Forum” where any person can apply to address the meeting on any issue relevant to Dubbo City Council. Since Australia conforms to article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, does that mean any member of the public can stand at a Council meeting and say whatever they want? Not quite. They wouldn’t be allowed to insult Councillors or members of staff or make comments that are inconsistent with maintaining order. There are a variety of other restrictions in place at Council – and across this nation. With so many restrictions, do we really have total Freedom of Speech that we assume we have? If I can’t stand in a meeting and say that, in my opinion, Billy Bloggs is a big-nosed liar, do I have real Freedom of Speech? Who decides when I infringe upon the rights or reputations of others or make comments that will risk public order? My point is that every government restricts speech to some degree – the hope is that the restrictions are so few that residents are encouraged to let ideas and information flow and ensure that we don’t feel marginalised for having different opinions.
As for me, I will keep admitting that I support Manly until they outlaw it!
Tell me what team you follow at mayor@dubbo.nsw.gov.au.