Fremantle Society takes legal action against Fremantle mayor for ‘calling out’ group president in video

A racism row has erupted in Fremantle between the port city’s mayor and well known local heritage advocate John Dowson, with lawyers brought in after the mayor ‘called out’ The Fremantle Society president in a video message marking National Reconciliation Week. Mr Dowson and The Fremantle Society have responded with a lawyer’s letter claiming mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge lied in her video message, calling it a “gross misrepresentation” that constituted “a very serious defamation”. The letter, which was addressed to the mayor and the City of Fremantle, goes on to demand that the mayor’s video message be pulled off all social media platforms and the mayor issue an apology “as quickly as possible” on social media. Ms Fitzhardinge told PerthNow on Tuesday she was seeking “more advice” before “deciding on next steps”. In the video, while speaking about National Reconciliation Week Ms Fitzhardinge referenced feedback from Mr Dowson about the port city’s plans to mark 200 years since colonisation in 2029. “One of the themes (of the week) was calling out racism and 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,” she said. “I just want to call out that I don’t think that’s OK. “I think we should be beyond the point where we make a big fuss about Aboriginal people being included. “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 had used the word “disgraceful” in his feedback to the mayor — which has been seen by PerthNow — in reference to a City of Fremantle council agenda document. “The item going to council ... is probably the most divisive and disgraceful item to have been put forward to council for decades,” Mr Dowson wrote. “The area, known officially as Arthur Head, not Manjaree, is one of the most important Colonial sites in Australia. It also has significance for Aboriginal people. “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. “Your council item is focused on Aboriginal issues and reflects poorly on the Towards 2029 Working Group whose only community member was Aboriginal. “The bicentenary must be a positive and inclusive time that brings people together, and not divides them as you are doing.” Ms Fitzhardinge later told PerthNow: “The decision to call this behaviour was not done lightly but was spurred by calls to action as part of National Reconciliation Week, and by comments made by WA Premier Roger Cook in his speech announcing the reparation scheme for the Stolen Generations”. Mr Dowson told PerthNow the mayor’s video comments were “shocking beyond belief” and not an accurate reflection of the Society’s feedback. “The Fremantle Society committee is totally united in taking legal action against the mayor and Fremantle council over what our lawyer calls serious defamation,” he said. “As our email makes clear... we want a bicentenary that brings people together and celebrates the many wonderful things achieved in WA over 200 years while addressing the negatives as well. “It is seriously wrong that the mayor pursues a very one-sided unbalanced agenda and defunds and dismantles any non Aboriginal history and heritage in such a famous heritage town as Fremantle. “In 35 years of living in Fremantle, I have never seen a mayor or for that matter any senior official come out using council servers and emails and Facebook and so on to attack an individual and to attack an organisation that’s been around for 53 years.” As well as deleting the video, Mr Dowson said he thinks the mayor should resign. His lawyer Robert Garton Smith has also flagged a potential claim for damages and other relief. The letter, which was sent on behalf of Mr Dowson and The Fremantle Society, also requested the apology be sent “to every person who has commented on the video”. “On behalf of my clients, I require you and the City of Fremantle to pull the video off all social media platforms on which it is currently made accessible,” his letter said. “An apology will not go viral as the video has. “Nonetheless, my clients ask you for an apology in working to be approved by me, to be broadcast as quickly as possible on the same social media as the video was broadcast. “We also require you to send the apology to every person who has commented on the video.” The fallout relates to the City of Fremantle developing a vision to turn the Manjaree area — Bathers Beach, Arthur Head and the Round House — into a vibrant precinct ahead of the 2029 bicentenary. The proposal for the vision was presented at the same recent council meeting and was carried unanimously by council.