By BRIDGET SCOTT
A CITY of Casey councillor has called for a bi-law to prevent the “barbaric“ sport of case fighting coming to Casey.
Councillor Amanda Stapledon said she was “horrified“ when she heard the sport could be permitted in the city.
“It’s a barbaric style of fighting and you’re hurting other people,“ she said.
“I was horrified when I heard it would be permitted.“
“It’s violence in an arena.“
However, not all fellow councillors shared her concerns.
At last week’s council meeting, two councillors tried to block Cr Stapledon’s motion preventing the sport starting up in Casey.
Dissenting councillor Rosalie Crestani said “people have a right” to participate in cage fighting, pointing out that in her opinion boxing could be just as violent.
“If we start shutting things like this down it will send them underground.
“I don’t think we should step into this area.”
However Cr Stapledon said she didn’t want to shut down cage fighting but that her intention was to prevent it coming to the City of Casey in the first place.
Cr Stapledon refered to comments made in State Parliament by Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins, in which the minister said “councils are sovereign bodies” and they “can introduce their own by-laws if they choose to do so, they have the right to do so“.
Cr Stapeldon’s motion directed council officers to write to Ms Hutchins advising her of Casey’s opposition to cage fighting both within the municipality and Victoria.
The council will also seek clarification on how best to prepare a local law disallowing cage fighting within the municipality.
