The group will see input from the nine communities of priority identified in council’s Access and Inclusion Strategy 2020-2026.
These communities are LGBTQIA+, women, people with mental illness, older people, culturally diverse communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with social disadvantage, people with disability and youth.
The purpose of the group is to present issues to and consult council, including providing advice for infrastructure design projects, community support and advocacy, and council-managed events.
A minimum of six and a maximum of nine committee members each representing at least one community of priority will meet quarterly, with one councillor providing secretarial support.
The group was proposed through a petition in April to create an LGBTQIA+ advisory committee, with a council meeting on May 21 deciding to amend the group concept to reflect all nine communities of priority.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Cr Zoe Cook presented a motion to establish a Rainbow Advisory Group based on the original petition, with all councillors, bar Cr Cook and Cr Adrian Weston, voting against this motion.
Crs Paul Jarman, Tony Marwood and Rob Amos said they believed the establishment of this group would prioritise one group over another, or exclude other groups.
A motion was moved by Cr Jarman for the establishment of a Diversity and Inclusion Reference Group with all nine communities of priority.
Councillors voted unanimously for the motion, with Cr Jarman reflecting on the potential benefits of the group.
“This is a step forward,” he said.
“We want the members to bring lived experience to the conversations.”
Cr Cook echoed these sentiments, highlighting the need for engagement with council’s communities of priority so that they could be better represented and supported.
“I believe it is very important to have an advisory committee representing our priority groups,” she said.
“It is the best way to hear from those communities on how we can best meet their needs in our community and ensure they can live their best lives and thrive ... without experiencing discrimination or inequality or inaccessibility due to factors that are not of their control.”
