Fremantle council to debate motion calling on Federal Government to help protect Wikileaks founder Julian Assange

Take note, President Trump: you can’t force WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to fly to the United States to face espionage charges because Fremantle council says so. After declaring the world was in a state of climate emergency in 2018 a committee of the council has once again strayed beyond rates, road and rubbish by passing a motion not to support Assange’s extradition from the United Kingdom. As part of Fremantle councillor Sam Wainwright’s motion passed at a committee meeting on Wednesday night, the council will also write to Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne requesting the Federal Government take immediate action to ensure British authorities protect Assange’s human rights and his health conditions. Mayor Brad Pettitt, who seconded the motion, said he understood the argument that the council should not be involved in non-local issues. “I think when it comes to key issues to do with human rights and the environment, the community welcome the council taking a position,” he said. “I believe we are in a position to amplify important voices.” Cr Wainwright said at the meeting that the council had moved advocacy motions in the past to do with live animal exports and refugee rights and he had no problem with it stepping into the space. In his reasons for moving the motion, he pointed to a request by community members including the Perth 4 Assange campaign group, which has about 200 likes on Facebook. He also referred to similar resolutions that have been passed by the Cities of Darebin, Yarra, Moreland and the Byron Shire Council. Cr Marija Vujcic said she believed the motion was admirable and she was not unsympathetic but said it was the job of Fremantle MHR Josh Wilson to represent the community on the issue. She said the council did not have a mandate to involve itself and should stick to local issues. The motion will be debated at the council’s March 25 meeting.