MAYOR DELETES RACISM POSTS IN VAIN

MAYOR Hannah Fitzhardinge has removed from her ratepayer-funded social media pages claims of racism against The Fremantle Society and president John Dowson.
After nearly three weeks since the City asked her to delete the potentially defamatory comments, the mayor who is up for re-election in October today appears to have removed her public slurs against Mr Dowson over his concerns and criticisms of the City’s ‘divisive’ bicentenary plans.
Mr Dowson told StreetWise today the reputational damage to Society members including himself had been done and that removal of the posts, or an apology, would not change that.
As reported by StreetWise on May 28, Cr Fitzhardinge used her attendance at National Reconciliation Week to take a stand against racism and ‘call out’ the Society and Mr Dowson who wrote to all elected members the previous day asking for a more inclusive program for 2026.
Mr Dowson described the plans as, “the most divisive and disgraceful item to have been put forward to council for decades”. The ‘revisionist’ plans extend to the City’s increasing use in council literature and public signage the name ‘Manjaree’ over Arthur Head including Bathers Bay without approval from Landgate.
Even the proposed City Plan now out for public comment mentions Arthur Head just once, incorrectly spelt in a small picture caption on page 40 (opposite). Manjaree has replaced even the name in the plan’s various maps.
“As we head towards the State’s Bicentenary, there needs to be planning which celebrates 200 years of those many layers of history, and also acknowledges the perspectives of Aboriginal people,” Mr Dowson explained. “Your council item is focused on Aboriginal issues and reflects poorly on the Towards 2029 Working Group whose only community member was Aboriginal.”
The West End heritage advocate urged councillors to withdraw, “this shockingly biased item”, which was passed unanimously by council on May 28.
Instead of a written reply, Cr Fitzhardinge seized on ‘disgraceful’ to vent publicly her longheld dislike of Mr Dowson who did not call the mayor such in his email to councillors: “Interestingly I got an email yesterday from John Dowson speaking on behalf of the Fremantle Society, calling me disgraceful for including Aboriginal people in a conversation about 2029 and how we acknowledge 200 years since colonial arrival here in Fremantle. I just wanna call out that I don’t think that’s okay … You know to be called disgraceful for including Aboriginal people, I’m sorry John Dowson I don’t think the Fremantle community is behind what you’re saying.”
Mr Dowson asked Cr Fitzhardinge to remove the offensive post the same day it was published on her Facebook and Instagram pages.
On June 4, City lawyers wrote to Mr Dowson and stated Cr Fitzhardinge had been asked to remove the posts. Cr Fitzhardinge has said she had not received any advice from the City.
StreetWise understands Cr Fitzhardinge when asked by City staff to remove the post and apologise to Mr Dowson reportedly responded by saying it had nothing to do with the City.
If this is the case, ratepayers should not be expected nor elected members asked to vote on whether to meet Cr Fitzhardinge’s legal bills which could cost the City dearly defending Mr Dowson’s legal action.
Elected members StreetWise spoke to described Cr Fitzhardinge’s post as one of the “weirdest, stupidest things she’s done”. The City has not responded to questions StreetWise sent on June 6:

1. Will the City meet Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge’s legal fees if The Fremantle Society pursues action over her racism remarks of May 28?
2. Does the City have a policy regarding coverage of elected members’ legal fees?
3. Do elected members including the mayor receive an allowance for computers, internet access, online subscriptions, etc? If so, how much is this allowance?
4. Will the matter be referred to audit & risk?

On June 16, Cr Fitzhardinge left council chambers after she disclosed an interest in the audit and risk committee’s ‘emerging issues report’ item. Next week’s council agenda includes no confidential business, yet.
StreetWise has reported that all councillors including the mayor receive an additional allowance of $3000 a year for computers, phones, internet access and subscriptions to various platforms. Next week’s council meeting includes a budget item to increase the allowance to $3500 a year or $14,000 for a term in office.
There is no requirement to spend the allowance and elected members can still use their own devices.