Silence Shirley? Good luck!

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Randwick citizen Shirley Finn got her chance to speak at a council meeting this week a …and attempts by the Mayor to cut her back fell foul of Shirley’s persistence and determination. The topic? Boycotts against Israel…Marrickville and Randwick.

Shirley Finn (centre0 flanked by Victor Macri and Morris Hanna and supporters

Randwick Council had voted against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions but the three Greens members who voted for it were seeking a rescission of the motion.

Shirley Finn told J-Wire: “I had to shout down Greens Mayor Murray Matson to be heard. In fact, there was a lot of heated arguments as to whether I should have been allowed to speak…and I am a ratepayer. He first interjected at line six of my speech but instead of making me nervous, it just inspired me. Half way through my speech he asked me how much longer I was going to take and I told him ‘for as long as it takes and for as long as you keep quiet'”.

The motion remained pass. Marrickville councillors Victor Macri and Morris Hanna who oppose the motion to implement BDS in the inner West municipality attended the Randwick meeting.

This is what Shirley Finn had to say:

I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Cadigal people and pay my respects to elders past and present

On December 14^th 2010, The Greens led Marrickville Council, chose to support the BDS, a rapidly growing global organisation, whose basic agenda  is the destruction of the State of Israel.  Whose founder openly speaks of a Two State Solution as being  “A Palestine next to a Palestine, rather than a Palestine next to an Israel”.

They showed their support by passing a Motion, to boycott all goods made in Israel, prohibit cultural exchanges, sporting and academic institutions.  Which so far has taken many staff, countless hours to begin enforcing .

Surely , the money spent so far by Marrickville Council, in their attempted  boycott  of Israel,  would have been  better used within the Municipality .

Councillors Macri and Hanna, the 2  Councillors who voted against the motion, are here with us this evening.  I ‘d would like to personally thank you both very  much for being here and for your steadfast support in opposing this motion and for your help, not only to me but to the Community also

In light of Marrickville’s motion , Councillors at Randwick passed a Motion against them and in support of Israel, which passed  by 9 votes to 3.

The three being the Greens,  who in response chose to put in a Rescission Motion.

Marrickville Council, pushed by the  NSW Greens agenda, AND now followed by Randwick Greens, have chosen to support a group whose aim is the destruction of Israel,. and have done so in the run-up to an election, guaranteeing even more publicity for the  foul antisemitic agenda of the BDS.,

That both Marrickville  and Randwick Greens, would even consider making such an ill advised decision, when their own Federal party commits them to a policy of dialogue and reconciliation towards the Israeli-Palestinian situation, is a stunt of deplorable taste..even for them

Let’s remind ourselves that Israel is a small Democratic State, occupying one sixth of 1% of the entire Middle East, it’s barely 1/3 rd of the size of Tasmania.

Yet in spite of recent events, it remains the only beacon of democracy in the Middle East,.

It enshrines freedom of speech, a free press and a State whose citizens live under the rule of law.

It’s the only State in the Middle East, where people of all religions can practice their faith freely and openly.

It’s the only State in the Middle East, where homosexuals are free to live without fear of persecution, or indeed execution.

It’s  State, which only today, has been the first country to set up a field hospital in Japan.

In short, it’s the State in the Middle East which resembles our own values and with whom Australia has long stood side by side, as a friend and ally

Yet it’s the only State which the  Marrickville and Randwick Greens, want to be shunned by our community.

It’s a case of irresponsible, student-style politics of the most opportunistic kind

Shame on you Greens.

The job of Local Government, is just that, taking care of local issues and maintaining much needed services in the local area for the community, regardless of race or religion.

As much as they may wish it, Greens Councillors are not elected to begin trade wars with our democratic allies around the world

That  Randwick’s Greens intend on following their colleagues down this grubby path, is ill considered at best and inflammatory at worst

As is their rescission motion , which  I  strongly urge they throw out once and for all this evening

There is a large Jewish population within the Randwick Municipality and we deserve your respect, not your vilification.

Shame on you Randwick Greens and greater shame on you Marrickville Greens

Australia’s proud history of multiculturism and shared respect has been dealt a blow by your hands  and your shameful and ignorant behaviour

Thank you to the 9 Councillors of Randwick Council, who  stood up for truth, justice and the Australian way