Tackling Anti-LGBTIQA+ Councillor Misconduct
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14296/ac.v7i1.5839Abstract
In Australia, there have been increasing culture wars on the topic of LGBTIQA+ inclusion in local government. Hely & Lew concerned comments from a male councillor (Lew) accusing a female councillor (Hely) of inappropriately prioritizing LGBTIQA+ issues that were alleged to be serious misconduct. In its determination, the Councillor Conduct Panel that hears allegations of serious misconduct found that this was simply “an example of vigorous political discourse” and “although being conduct which is to be discouraged, in the context of a ‘hot button’ political issue it was not behaviour which was unreasonable”. Whilst the Panel found that the behaviour of Lew towards Hely was “hostile”, ”disrespectful”, “unreasonable”, “inappropriate”, “aggressive” and “appalling”, it found that the behaviour did not constitute serious misconduct. This article reflects on this decision and how it undermines efforts to improve local government culture and to increase the number of women and LGBTIQA+ people elected to councils, as research shows that prejudice of this kind is a major barrier to lesbian, bi+ and queer women standing for local government—and no doubt affects heterosexual women too. In this spirit, the article rewrites the Panel’s determination in ways that are more sensitive and sensitized to issues of prejudice and exclusion.
Keywords: local government; misconduct; LGBTIQA+
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