South-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:53): (469) My constituency question is for the Minister for Local Government Minister Horne. My constituent is a resident of the Frankston local government area. Recently their council narrowly voted down a motion to remove the mandated Christian prayer at the start of the council meetings. My constituent aptly pointed out that the 2021 census data shows that more than half of the Frankston LGA do not identify as religious, and I am one of those constituents. Frankston council is in the process of developing a new safer community strategy, which is designed to promote a diverse, equal and tolerant community. A single-religion prayer sits in direct contradiction to the value pillars of that strategy. So my constituent asks: what encouragement has the minister provided to the Frankston LGA to adopt a secular or multifaith alternative, rather than imposing a single-faith prayer on its community?