Heated debate on race and gender at Benalla Rural City Council meeting

Should a sculpture honouring a woman take precedence to offset the fact that the majority of monuments to people in Benalla are monuments to men?

Why would a monument celebrating a key contributor to aviation not be located at Benalla Airport, rather than near the library?

These questions, and more, were raised at an extraordinary Benalla Rural City Council Meeting on May 24.

While the majority of items on the agenda were discussed in the usual procedural way you might expect from a council meeting, one particular topic hit a nerve with some.

Sparks were flying as a debate on a sculpture threatened to spiral out of control.

The sometimes heated debate came as a result of a motion to consider submissions on, and decide whether to approve, a sculpture of Arthur Baird near Benalla Library.

World War I veteran Arthur Baird, who was born in Benalla, was a driving force in the establishment of Australia’s aviation industry as a founding member of Qantas.

He also helped to establish the Royal Flying Doctors Service and modified the first aircraft to be used as an air ambulance that could operate in remote inland conditions.

The proposal to install a contemporary and engaging art installation in his honour was the result of a research project undertaken by several local people.

The “Arthur Baird Sculpture Project” was subsequently put to the public for feedback in March.

The result was more than 100 submissions, mostly in favour of the sculpture (76 per cent in favour).

However, there were several responses recommending a different location, and several who were opposed for a variety of reasons.

On the question of where the the sculpture should be located, while most preferred the proposed location outside Benalla Library, the numbers were much closer with 40 per cent of submissions recommending a different location.

The majority of those opposed to the proposed location, who included a written submission, said they would prefer if it was placed at Benalla Airport.

The contentious part of the debate came as a result of Cr Puna Gunaratne’s opposition to the sculpture, which was at odds with the other six councillors who all voted in favour of it.

“I’m speaking against this recommendation,” Cr Gunaratne told the meeting.

“I represent the views of the people who have (given) their opinion beyond the yes or no poll.

“Public art in Benalla I feel is... gendered, white and disconnected from the long history of people living where we are today, on Yorta Yorta land.

“Firstly I want to highlight that deliberative engagement is not about putting a flashy, major, confusing artwork in front of people and asking yes or no.

“It is about providing people with relevant information. Such as what options were evaluated in this instance? Why has this project been delayed since 2020? Why wasn’t the grant money... spent for three years?”

Cr Gunaratne spoke against using “yes or no polls” for feedback stating these types of polls would “drag council down” in terms of community engagement, and not improve it.

“Respect for participants is an important principal in deliberative engagement... We need to respect these views,” he said.

“We have been given a range of reasons that this proposed sculpture does not fit Benalla’s culture...

“Reflecting on the critics of this project I was reminded of the petition that was brought before the council asking for climate emergency (sic). Six-hundred signatures, a good effort in a community like Benalla.

“We know that people are thinking about climate change and how it is going to impact us all...”

Cr Gunaratne was interrupted by Cr Peter Davis at this point who requested to make a point of order. A request that was granted by meeting chair Cr Bernie Hearn.

“We’re going totally off the subject that we are here tonight to discuss,” Cr Davis said.

“We’re here to discuss item 4.2, and this to me is just grandstanding.”

Cr Gunaratne lodged an objection stating there is nothing in council’s governance about grandstanding.

Cr Hearn upheld Cr Davis’ point of order and asked Cr Gunaratne to bring the debate back to the sculpture.

“This isn’t about climate change,” Cr Hearn said.

“This is about a statue. So could you please get back onto the point.”

Cr Gunaratne said he would get back to the point.

“But climate change is affecting everything,” he said.

A debate between Cr Hearn and Cr Gunaratne ensued regarding if the motion was, or was not, to do with climate change.

“There is (nothing in the rules) to stop my speech or the debate,“ Cr Gunaratner said.

“I think this is obstructing the debate.”

Cr Hearn stated that Cr Gunaratne could continue with his speech.

“But you are not to bring it on to climate change,” she said.

“It’s not about climate change. It’s about a statue going up at the library, and I’d like it to stay on that subject please.”

Cr Gunaratne then stated that he wanted to remind council that what was being discussed regards one of the largest carbon emitters in Australia.

“We are creating a narrative about this part of Australia,” he said.

“And I don’t feel that future generations are going to feel the same way about Qantas when they are experiencing the (results) of extreme climate conditions created by businesses...”

Cr Gunaratne was again interrupted by Cr Hearn with a request to focus on the sculpture, rather than climate change.

His response was that if Cr Hearn listened to his speech she would understand what he was saying.

“Cr Gunaratne, I understand where you’re going,” Cr Hearn said in response.

“It’s not a plane, it’s a sculpture.”

The debate continued with Cr Gunaratne keen to explain his point and the context behind it.

“I am talking about Qantas,” he said.

Cr Hearn responded stating that if Cr Gunaratne had relevant thing to say he should continue speaking.

“But if you are going to keep going off point, I would like you to stop,” she said.

Cr Gunaratne replied that art was contextual, and monuments to people were monuments to their whole, not just the part people were willing to talk about.

“Arthur Baird is known because he benefited from a system that gave him special advantage to do what he did and rewarded him through consistent payments while he was doing the job,” he said.

“If he didn’t receive special treatment that was delivered to white men in the era: access to education; acceptance of his skills, in the specific area of (his) interest; access to paid workforce, then we wouldn’t know anything about him.

“Why are we not building a monument to people who made meaningful contributions to political life of this land (sic)?”

An increasing exasperated Cr Hearn, once again interjected stating that Cr Gunaratne was “out of line”.

The debate continued with neither side giving any ground.

As the dust settled councillors King, O’Brien, Davis and Firth all spoke in favour of the proposed installation.

Cr Hearn also spoke in favour of the installation.

“I find this an amazing project that the community has backed,” she said.

“They’ve found out all the information. They’ve done all of the hard work for us... They have bought it to us, and encouraged us to look deeper into it...

“Cr Gunaratne I am not impressed with your racial undertones of white men (sic).

“God help this earth if white men are not allowed to be honoured. That is a terrible thing to be said.”

At this point Cr Gunaratne interjected and was quickly shut down by Cr Hearn.

“Cr Gunaratne I am speaking at the moment,” she said.

“I am the chair, and I am speaking. I am very very hopeful that the children and youth of Benalla will be able to set their sights high and always dream big.

“(This sculpture) will also encourage them to look outside their surrounds.”

The motion would eventually pass by six votes to one.

While sometimes heated, in the end this was democracy in action.

Something was put forward by the community. Elected officials chose to consider it, and put it out for feedback.

The majority of responses were positive. The motion to accept the proposal was put to council and a robust debate ensued.

Following a vote, the majority was successful.

The Arthur Baird Sculpture, which will be funded by part of a state government grant, is now set to go ahead near Benalla Library.

You can watch the whole debate via www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv2a6K41UMk