MAYORAL CANDIDATE APOLOGISES FOR RACIST SLUR

EXCLUSIVE: Mayoral candidate Hannah Fitzhardinge has posted a grovelling apology to Fremantle Society president John Dowson after calling him racist for rejecting City plans for the WA bicentenary in 2029.
At the same time, Cr Fitzhardinge has told Notre Dame she refused to participate in the upcoming mayoral debate if Mr Dowson is involved in its organisation.
So much for sorry.
Running for a second term in the October 18 elections, Cr Fitzhardinge said of her May 27 reaction to Mr Dowson: “I noted in my post that including Aboriginal people in the conversation about the 200th anniversary of colonisation in 2029, should not prompt concern, and contrary to that, Aboriginal people should be front and centre in thinking about the 200th anniversary.”
She added without actually saying ‘sorry’ for any reputational damage, perceived or real: “I did not mean to imply that either Mr Dowson or the members of the Fremantle Society had suggested that Aboriginal people’s role in post-Colonial Fremantle should be ignored or otherwise marginalised. To the extent that my publication did convey those imputations, they were wrong and I apologise to Mr Dowson and the Fremantle Society for any such suggestion.”
Mr Dowson told StreetWise that Cr Fitzhardinge caved in after City insurers advised her to apologise before they could accept paying her legal fees if it went to court.
“It’s outrageous what she did,” he said referring to the offensive slur Cr Fitzhardinge refused to remove from social media for 26 days. “We have been vindicated.”
Mr Dowson said he saw Cr Fitzhardinge’s ‘apology’ before it was posted yesterday as part of legal negotiations: “It didn’t sound like an apology initially. She was padding it so it sounded like a long story rather than an apology. She is stubborn and was forced into it.”
But Mr Dowson’s disappointment at not having received a sincere apology pales in comparison to the hypocrisy of Cr Fitzhardinge throwing a hissy fit over any Fremantle Society involvement in the next mayoral debate at Notre Dame.
“It’s disgraceful,” he said. “Here she is at it again. How dare the mayor of a city accuse us of bias and not being fair, it just shows the level of arrogance and ‘cancel culture’ that is infecting proper public debate.”
The West End heritage expert engaged defamation lawyers to sue Cr Fitzhardinge and the City and said at the launch in July of ‘The Fremantle Society: 50 years of serving and saving Fremantle 1972 – 2022’ it was, “time to stand up to bullies”, who demonise people who disagree with them (http://www.streetwisemedia.com.au/new-book-showcases-society-heritage-battles/).
He said Cr Fitzhardinge crossed the line when she used her ratepayer-funded social media to ‘call out’ him out as racist for questioning City plans for the WA bicentenary. Cr Fitzhardinge eventually removed the offensive post but not after Mr Dowson was vilified and demonised by her readers. We have screenshots (http://www.streetwisemedia.com.au/mayor-deletes-racism-posts-in-vain/).
At the time, councillors told StreetWise that Cr Fitzhardinge’s posts were extraordinary given Mr Dowson had written to all councillors to raise concerns over what he felt were “divisive and disgraceful” plans for the 200th anniversary celebrations the community did not want turned into commemorations (http://www.streetwisemedia.com.au/freo-mayor-attacks-society-over-racism/).
The public stoush as these screenshots show has attracted thousands of readers since StreetWise started reporting it on May 28 on its Facebook page and www.streetwisemedia.com.au.
Mayoral candidate Marija Vujcic said Cr Fitzhardinge’s apology revealed a serious lack of leadership in which she could not even use the word ‘sorry’.
“It shows her true colours,” she said. “She is someone who knows legally she will be taken to court for her offensive comments. Offering a heartfelt sorry is your true test of leadership.”
Ms Vujcic also is running in coastal ward against Cr Andrew Sullivan who received Mr Dowson’s letter of complaint that offended Cr Fitzhardinge.
Ms Vujcic told StreetWise she would reconsider taking part in the Notre Dame debate if the Society was kicked out of the organising committee. Fearing a repeat of Notre Dame’s disastrous February 19 state candidates debate, she urged other mayoral candidates to do the same in protest at Cr Fitzhardinge’s lack of leadership in which she shook hands with Mr Dowson and stabbed him in the back with the other.
She said Cr Fitzhardinge’s treatment of Mr Dowson is reflected in her refusal to enter for council debate not a single motion raised at annual general electors meetings. This just confirms her attitude when someone does not agree with her, she said.
“This is who she is. This is what you’re voting for in this election. A lack of leadership and integrity.”
Fellow mayoral candidate Mark Woodcock agreed, adding that electors at every one of those annual general meetings voted no confidence in Cr Fitzhardinge. In relation to her apology: “It’s a terrible leadership position to be in when the community is being asked how to celebrate the 200-year anniversary.”
Also running for mayor, Cr Ben Lawver, who also received Mr Dowson’s letter, has been contacted for comment.
StreetWise will preview the final weeks of the election campaign(s) in the 25th edition of the port city’s independent print and online publication.