IT'S important the true heart of the issue is the focus of today's meeting between Bendigo Mayor Peter Cox and councillor Elise Chapman.
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This is not about freedom of speech.
It is not about female or male genital mutilation.
It is not an issue about whether or not Bendigo should have a mosque.
Sadly, those topics have become the focus of debate since Councillor Chapman tweeted a disturbing and horrific picture of infants with mutilated genitals to a woman who offered opinion supporting a mosque being built in our city.
The picture intimidated and generated fear in the recipient and while the City of Greater Bendigo declined to say on Monday if they had since offered the woman support, we would hope so.
The subsequent reaction to the tweet has brought more unwanted and damaging attention to our city.
It has deeply disturbed many in the City of Greater Bendigo who quickly distanced themselves from the councillor's view.
It has even moved some leading business people to discuss ceasing working with Cr Chapman.
The heart of this issue isn't about Cr Chapman's views on Islam, the mosque or genital mutilation but that she sees sending an image of this nature to anyone on social media as acceptable behaviour.
We believe the incident should be referred to the code of conduct panel for review.
And we call on the local government minister to use this example to review a questionable Local Government Act that does not allow for individual councillors to face consequences for such actions.
The subsequent reaction to the tweet has brought more unwanted and damaging attention to our city.