Tom Elliott lets rip on City of Melbourne over ‘appalling’ use of council time

Tom Elliott has let rip on the City of Melbourne over its plan to lobby against Australia Day celebrations.

He says it’s an “appalling” use of council time, given the string of issues currently facing the struggling CBD.

The council will vote on whether or not the council should recognise the “divisive” January 26 celebrations at a meeting this week.

Tom Elliott said the council should be more concerned about pushback against bike lanes, low worker numbers in the city post-lockdown and a struggling economy.

“And they’re sitting here getting obsessed with culture wars,” he said.

“In fact, the cynic in me thinks the reason the City of Melbourne is doing this is to distract attention from the real problems the CBD faces.

“It does my head in.

“They don’t do the jobs properly that they should be doing, but do sit there worrying about things that aren’t their job.

“It is not the City of Melbourne’s decision on which the date Australia Day should be celebrated.”

Press PLAY below to hear Tom Elliott’s scathing editorial

But Peter Mousaferiadis, a Melbourne multicultural and First Nations advocate, told Tom Elliott it was an issue that impacted everybody.

“I think this is a great opportunity where we can start to strengthen our identity,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear his views