Tom Elliott takes aim at ‘elitist’ council for not giving ratepayers a say

Tom Elliott has taken a swipe at the “elitist” Moreland City Council after it did not seek ratepayer opinion before voting to change its name.

A motion was passed 6-3 this week to change the name because it has links to a Jamaican slave estate in the 19th century.

It’s said the change will cost ratepayers $500,000 over two years, but one Moreland City councillor who voted against the motion said he expected that figure to be several million dollars.

Local resident’s advocate Rod Duncan told 3AW News ratepayers didn’t need to have their says on the matter.

“It would be very divisive to go the community and ask do you want to keep a racist name, or not,” he said.

Tom Elliott said that answer wasn’t good enough.

“So if you’re a Moreland ratepayer, you will have to pay to change your council name, but your opinion on the issue cannot be sought,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear Tom Elliott’s editorial