North Sydney Council votes to ban fur and leather
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Outrage as Northern Sydney votes to ban fur and leather on council property and events, including balls and boots on sports fields: ‘What planet are you on?’
- Northern Sydney Council considers motion to ban ‘obsolete’ leather and fur goods
- Councilors passed a motion to address the use of leather and fur on their property
- Taken literally, it could affect iconic Australian brands and sports teams.
- Neighbors in the area mocked the plan in calls to former mayor Jilly Gibson
A city center council has been ridiculed over a proposed ban on leather and fur on its properties, which could include sports balls and iconic Australian brands.
Sustainable Australia Party Councillor, Georgia Lamb, called on North Sydney Council to vote on a motion that would “retire” all leather and fur items and would “never be worn at formal events”.
Nine of 10 council members voted in favor of a version amended by Ms Lamb, who previously said anything made from leather or fur was “obsolete products”.
Sustainable Australia Party Councilor Georgia Lamb called on North Sydney Council to vote on a motion that would “remove” all leather and fur goods.
The ban could put unintended pressure on sports teams over the use of cricket balls. Pictured is Australia’s all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who will bowl a leather ball at the North Sydney Oval on January 23. Former Mayor Jilly Gibson (pictured right) said residents are not in favor.
In theory, the proposal could have led to iconic Australian clothing brands such as RM Williams boots, Akubra caps and even leather football boots being banned from official events in northern Sydney.
It could also have put unintended pressure on sports teams by the use of Australian Rules cricket balls and footballs, which still contain leather, on North Sydney sports grounds in all grades.
Not to mention all the leather-bound books in the council library.
What made the idea even more uncomfortable was that it was debated from the comfort of leather chairs in the Northern Sydney Council chambers in a pre-Christmas session.
What made the idea even more uncomfortable was that it was debated from the comfort of leather chairs in the Northern Sydney Council chambers (pictured above).
The leather ban at council venues could technically mean people couldn’t wear iconic Australian brands like RM Williams boots or Akubra hats.
The only one of the 10 councilors to vote against the plan was former North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson.
said Mrs. Gibson 9News it had received strong feedback from taxpayers opposing the plans, with “residents saying it made us look like a comedy show.”
“I’ve had people say, ‘What happened to your council, this is ridiculous, what planet are they all on?’
Initially, Ms Lamb tabled a strongly worded motion to the council recommending that it should “take an official stance against the wearing of fur or leather at all formal events or events held on council property”.
His amended plan, which was approved, said the council needed to “prepare a policy to address the use of fur or leather” at official events.
North Sydney council has been ridiculed for a planned ban on leather and fur on its properties, which could include sports balls and iconic Australian brands.
He also said fur and leather goods could be framed and displayed with a note saying the council “disapproves of the creation of new leather or fur goods.”
He stated that the motion would protect the council from canceling the culture because the council would later be attacked anyway for the use of leather and fur.
Ms Gibson said Ms Lamb was an ‘incredible addition’ to the council when she joined as a 20-year-old college student in 2021 and had had lots of great ideas.
But she said the leather and fur movement “isn’t one of them.”
She said councilors needed to be ‘more careful’ about the plans they end up considering.