Given the rain and a temperature in the low teens, the meeting was briefly moved indoors, but the size of the crowd was such that the available room filled, as did the corridors leading to it. Fortunately, a break in the weather allowed the meeting to move back outside again.
Speakers included Lord Mayor Clover Moore; Alex Greenwich, member for the State seat of Sydney; John Robertson, Leader of the State Opposition; Greens Senator David Shoebridge; Sydney City Councillor and small business woman Angela Vithoulkas; Keith Rhoades, President, Local Government Association of NSW; and also Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon and actor Robyn Nevin. All were opposed to the legislation, though for markedly different reasons. Labor Senator Penny Sharpe, City of Sydney Councillor Linda Scott and City of Botany Mayor Ben Keneally, amongst other dignitaries, were present but did not speak.
Clover Moore told the appreciative audience, “Don’t let them steal our city”, quoted a range of people opposing the bill, and said that the motivation behind the legislation was to replace the City Council, because of its progressive positions on a range of issues.
David Shoebridge accused both major parties of having been “corrupted by corporations” and promised that the Greens would always oppose votes for corporations. Conversely, Angela Vitholukas was opposed to the legislation precisely because it would take the right to vote away from small businesses that occupy only part of a parcel of land, such as tenants in shopping centres and food-courts: “Small business will be wiped out by this bill … we will not be represented.” Alex Greenwich told the crowd that he was moving an alternate motion that supported businesses having one vote, but not two.
Keith Rhoades called for support for Alex Greenwich’s motion, “because it makes sense”, and said that the government had not consulted with local councils, that even the day before the legislation went to parliament the Minister had been unable to explain the legislation, and that the 24 mayors and councillors elected to the board of the Local Government Association of NSW had unanimously voted opposition to the bill – including Coalition members.
John Robertson condemned the legislation as an “attack on the fundamental principle of democracy – one vote, one value … everyone has the same right, all are worthy of one vote, one value.” Robertson warned that the legislation wouldn’t just affect the City of Sydney, but would apply to “every Council in this State … unless we stop it here”.
