By Mary Bolling
THE Dalai Lama may still make a pit stop at Melbourne Town Hall, with councillors under pressure to receive the Tibetan spiritual leader.
But with councillors preparing to vote on the issue tonight, the Dalai Lama’s Australian tour organisers have criticised “impolite” Australian politicians.
The Dalai Lama arrives in Melbourne next week for the start of his 10-day, eight-city tour.
Last November, Lord Mayor John So was invited to meet the leader — but tour director Alan Molloy said organisers were yet to receive a response from Town Hall.
Mr Molloy said it was frustrating that the council was only now considering receiving the visiting spiritual leader.
“Good manners and good breeding means one replies to an invitation promptly,” he said.
His comments come as Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, who first refused an invitation to meet the Dalai Lama, then accepted, yesterday again pulled out of the commitment.
Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd had declined to meet the leader, then accepted the invitation.
“To have politicians who say yes, then no, then yes, it’s very frustrating, and it’s impolite,” Mr Molloy said.
He said Melbourne City Council could still be accommodated if it did invite the Dalai Lama.
“If we thought there was a true sincere wish to meet with him, we could make it happen,” he said.
“The Dalai Lama is unfailingly polite, so I’m sure he would want to accept.”
But some councillors believe it’s not just bad manners that saw the Lord Mayor refuse the Dalai Lama’s invitation.
Cr Fraser Brindley, who will attend a function with the visiting leader, said the situation was “insidious”.
He alleged that the Lord Mayor’s office deliberately avoided passing the Dalai Lama’s invitation on to other councillors.
“I was contacted directly by organisers, who told me that the Lord Mayor’s office had said no councillors were able to attend,” Cr Brindley said.
“The Dalai Lama should be given the same courtesy that every other dignitary receives, but instead the deputy ambassador of upper Koo-wee-rup receives more hospitality than the Dalai Lama does.”
But Cr So denied obstructing any meetings.
“It is nonsense to say I oppose councillors hearing or meeting the Dalai Lama,” he said.
“According to the normal process, the invitation was passed from my office to the chair of Community Services, Cr David Wilson, and his office has confirmed this.”
The Melbourne City Council has invited the Dalai Lama to attend the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne in December 2009.
