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New "controversial event" policy sees councillors tipped off that the circus coming to town
October 17, 2023
By Peter Holmes
Orange City Council staff have advised councillors that a circus is coming to town, as part of a new policy that allows councillors to debate and vote on events that "are likely to be controversial”.
Hudsons Circus has been booked to operate on land next to North Orange Shopping Centre from October 26, 2023 to November 5, 2023.
A new policy proposed by councillor Steve Peterson and endorsed by nine of 11 voting councillors, means that council staff are required to inform councillors of any Council-related events “that are likely to be controversial”.
Councillors will be able to debate any such proposals before they are approved.
Peterson launched his push after receiving correspondence from constituents who were unhappy that the council had hired drag queen Betty Confetti. On Saturday September 2, Confetti read a book to children at Orange Library, and then hosted a trivia and bingo night.
"The recent Rainbow Story Time event paid for by Council has generated a variety of opinions within the community," read the background to Peterson's motion.
"As the elected community representatives it is the role of councillors to vote on controversial events not unelected staff members."
Peterson said that an email was sent from staff director Scott Maunder to councillors on August 2, 2023 to inform them the Rainbow Story Time event would occur.
"He was informing Councillors as he deemed ‘sensitivities around this type of activity’," said Peterson's background to the motion.
The staff response to Peterson's motion and background stated: "Staff will need to alert the CEO to matters that may be controversial and he will need to decide as such. Councillors will need to understand that this method will not always be perfect and may lead to excess reporting."
The circus would be considered council-related as it requires the approval of a DA.
The fact that Hudsons Circus has animals (domestic, not exotic) presumably led council staff to send an email to councillors on Monday night advising them that this was an event that some people may find controversial.
One councillor told The Orange News Examiner that following the letter from staff, the topic of the circus had been discussed amongst some councillors.
Hudsons Circus says it “presents a 2 hour traditional style Circus with a modern twist featuring
‘Edge of your seat Daredevils, Hilarious clowns and beautiful animal acts’ in a fast paced show for the whole family”.
Currently in Albury, it travels with five Welsh Mountain ponies (Silver, Spunky, Sonny, Star and Flash), the Flipping Disc Dogz and two Dromedary camels (Pearl and Storm).
The owners address the matter of animals on the Hudson Circus website.
“Hudsons Circus provides the highest standard of care to our animal partners. Our animal trainers and carers live, work and care for our animals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“Animal welfare and care is the first priority at Hudsons Circus and we are against animal cruelty. In every town we provide outdoor yards that exceed government regulated standards for the housing of circus animals.
“We set the animals up to maximise their opportunity for grazing, foraging, socialisation and protection from adverse weather conditions.”
Hudsons Circus says its animal accommodation “can be viewed by members of the public from the outside of our boundary anytime, and we welcome questions and inspections whenever requested.”
The circus says its animals are transported between towns in a “custom built animal semi-trailer, which provides optimum levels of comfort and welfare. Each section is rubber lined and carefully designed to suit each individual animal species”.
“We limit the distance travelled between towns each day for the animals and allow several days if it is a bigger drive," the circus stated.
"During rest stops their yards are set up and they come out and are given time to eat, drink and rest. The animals look forward to new surroundings and grazing opportunities when they arrive at each new location.”
A circus staff member said Hudsons was the last circus in Australia with animals.
They said that protestors had made it too difficult for many circuses to continue due to the cost of dealing with protestors, and some protestors "endangering the animals" by attempting to set them free.
"We get left alone," they said. The last protest was a few years ago in Robina, Queensland.
They said that when famed circus promoter Michael Edgley removed exotic animals from the Moscow Circus and replaced them with domestic animals, it was clear the days of caging tigers, lions, bears and elephants were about done.
The staff member said the circus had always trained animals via rewards, not by whipping or hurting them. "They are like family to us," they said.
Hudsons Circus is linked to the Lennon family, whose circus roots in Australia date back 130 years.
Tonight’s council meeting will deal with three significant issues behind closed doors.
First, a proposal from the Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association (GBOTA) to Orange City Council (OCC) relating to Orange as a location for a new greyhound track and centre of excellence.
Second, tenders related to the new conservatorium and planetarium.
And third, a Project Delivery Agreement for the Redmond Place “Gateway Site” Residential Development.
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