Junee Councillor Andrew Clinton has stated that Junee is “basically Protestant”, though only 22.2 per cent of people said they aligned with Protestant denominations, according to the 2021 ABS Census. Photo: Junee Shire Council/Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Following a lengthy debate, Junee Shire Council has elected to conduct the Lord’s Prayer before each of its ordinary council meetings.
The vote to introduce the practice was a close one, 4-3 in favour of the decision.
The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father) is a central Christian prayer, taught by Jesus to his disciples in the Bible.
The motion to introduce the prayer before the Acknowledgement of Country was introduced by Councillor Andrew Clinton, who described the town as “basically Protestant” after citing the 2021 ABS census results for Junee.
Councillor Ingrid Eyding seconded the motion that was ultimately supported by councillors Pam Halliburton and David Carter.
Mayor Bob Callow, councillors Matt Austin and Robin Asmus voted against the motion, with Deputy Mayor Marie Knight and Councillor Brigid Austin being absent from the meeting.
Cr Clinton said he thought long and hard before choosing to bring the motion to the council, but felt it was his duty to do so.
“We have this Lord’s Prayer before every session in the Commonwealth, House of Representatives, the Commonwealth Senate and every single state parliament in both houses and a prayer at the beginning of the session,” he said.
“We live in a town that is basically Protestant in denomination.
“I think the best way to justify that argument is to go and have a look at the number of people who filled in their census form that declared they had a religion. It’s quite, quite significant.
“I know that there were 1300 people who said they were Catholic.
“If there are people in our community who say that, why don’t we look after some of the other minorities who might not agree? Well, they can say their own prayer whilst this one is being said, and not everyone has to say it. It clearly states in the notice of motion that it is to be said by all who wish to say it.”
According to the most recent census result (2021), 1718 Junee residents affiliated themselves with Catholicism, while 1481 didn’t recognise religion at all. Another 1205 described themselves as Anglican and 1204 chose not to identify.
5763 of the town’s 6415 residents specified their religion in the 2021 census.
Mayor Bob Callow said he chose to vote against the motion due to the rising number of people living in Junee who didn’t identify as Catholic or Christian.
“A few councillors who have a strong belief in the Christian values decided it was time to ask to have the prayer implemented,” he said.
“I was against it; I don’t believe the council should be involved in secular issues, and I worried that the community might see that happening.
“We have a growing community that is diversifying, and that’s the reason I voted against it. I would hate for someone to feel as if they are not being represented by their council, given the feeling we lean to one religion over another.”
