Cr Zoe Cook gave a notice of motion that called for the council to join the Mayoral and Councillor Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum as a general member.
Part of the Back Your Neighbour campaign, joining the taskforce would allow the council to contribute to decision-making and vote on its movements.
After the motion was seconded by Cr Tony Marwood, Cr Cook delivered an impassioned speech that urged her fellow councillors to support the initiative.
“We, as a community, as representatives of the people of Campaspe Shire, must not stay quiet in the face of the blatant demonisation and right-stripping of asylum seekers and refugees by our Federal Government,” she said.
“We have a moral obligation to stand up for the marginalised communities of our shire and beyond.”
Cr Cook said the government had shifted the costs of caring for asylum seekers to councils and not-for-profit services, such as neighbourhood houses.
Those on temporary bridging visas were kept in a state of insecurity, Cr Cook said, and were often unable to work legally and became reliant on food banks for meals.
According to the Department of Health, an estimated 11,000 to 20,000 people seeking asylum live in Victoria on bridging visas, awaiting an outcome on refugee status.
Various councillors spoke against the motion, including some who had personal and familial ties to refugees and asylum seekers.
While all who spoke against the motion agreed with the intention behind it, many said it was outside the council’s operational scope.
Citing 2021 ABS Census data, Mayor Daniel Mackrell said there were no registered asylum seekers in Campaspe Shire.
“I’m against the motion that we have in front of us here today, not because of anything in regards to what it actually stands for ... but this is a federal issue,” he said.
“I think what we should be doing is, in the future, we have a discussion about this, where we’re best seen and fit for what we need to do.”
According to the Refugee Council of Australia, no people on bridging visas were recorded in Echuca and surrounds as of June this year, with a small number identified in Shepparton.
Crs Cook, Marwood and Rob Amos voted for the motion, while Crs Mackrell, Paul Jarman, Adrian Weston and Jessica Mitchell voted against.
Cr Luke Sharrock left the meeting due to a conflict of interest.
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