The comments by a Port Hedland councillor who praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for a recent election win on Russian state television have been described as “regrettable” and counter to the interests of a small Aussie mining town.
Adrian McRae was invited by the Russian government to travel to Moscow as an “independent” election observer, even before he held any official role. He was only sworn in as a councillor on his return to Australia.
The election result last on March 24 meant that Mr. Putin extended his nearly quarter-century rule for six more years, overtaking Joseph Stalin to become Russia’s longest-serving leader in over 200 years.
Senior political figures around the world decried the result as lacking legitimacy. The White House’s National Security Council spokesperson said “The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him,” while Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the result was an “insult to democracy.“ British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said it had underlined the depth of repression of Mr. Putin’s regime, which ”seeks to silence any opposition to his illegal war.”
But Mr. McRae joined Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the presidents’ of Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela in congratulating Mr. Putin on his victory, as did the leaders of the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
He was shown on Russian television saying: “Can I please pass on my most sincere congratulations to Mr. Vladimir Putin. In my lifetime, the world has never seen such a transparent and comprehensive victory as what we saw here over the last three days.”
He later said that he had been invited by Russian Ambassador to Australia ,Aleksey Pavlovsky, after the two shared a meal in Sydney earlier this year.
Speaking to regional newspaper North West Telegraph, he said that he could “write for hours” about “the most ridiculously over-the-top transparency” he witnessed.
Local Critics Not Impressed
But former Port Hedland shire president Arnold Carter describes Mr. McRae’s actions as running counter to the interests of the mining town, a critical export port for Australia’s mining industry.“He has his own beliefs. You can have those beliefs and still carry out your duties as a councillor, but not to go to the top ring of Russia,” Mr. Carter said.
“The congratulations on being elected [to Mr. Putin], that to me it’s erroneous.”
Mr. Carter said Mr. McRae should have known his actions would reflect on the Shire.
Town of Port Hedland chief executive Carl Askew told the North West Telegraph that Mr. McRae had travelled in a personal capacity. “The town does not comment on the personal activities of elected members,” he said. “All elected members are subject to the town’s code of conduct.”
West Australia Premier Roger Cook did not go as far as calling for Mr. McRae to stand down, but agreed he had displayed “regrettable behaviour and even more regrettable commentary.”
“I don’t think that’s the sort of thing we expect our local government authority councillors to get up to. It’s quite disturbing observations as well,” he said.
“He will obviously be counselled by the Town of Port Hedland in terms of his conduct, but I also expect the people of Port Hedland to express their dissatisfaction with that.”
