Weeds grow through our pavers at home.

Paspalum and dandelions, and grass that belongs in the lawn.

Glyphosate sorts them out, but they take a week to die.

Dying weeds hanging on littering our pavers is frustrating. It is also ugly.

Glyphosate is not a safe chemical, but it does the job.

The weeds die and they eventually disappear.

They are forgotten about until they grow back.

Tough community conversations are important, but they must be facilitated by leaders who understand the consequences of their statements and actions.

The City of Launceston recognised the purported achievements of colonial John Batman by laying a commemorative paver in Civic Square following refurbishment in 2018.

It reads: "1836 Batman, Fawner settle Melbourne - Rivals John Batman and John Pascoe Fawkner both took credit for the settlement of Melbourne. Batman acted as founder of the Port Phillip Association established to develop the area, signing a treaty with the resident Aborigines. Fawkner acted of his own initiative".

The commemorative paver is factually inaccurate, and parochial at best because it does not even speak of Launceston or Tasmania.

There is another "history" paver that says Aborigines "visited Launceston".

If this own goal was not serious enough, it would be laughable.

The idea that Batman signed a treaty requires challenge.

The so-called treaty was declared invalid by Governor Bourke of NSW in 1835 just two-months after John Batman co-signed with allegedly forged signatures.

The so-called treaty granted John Batman 240,000 hectares of prime farming land.

The Wurundjeri people of the kulin nation received a supply of magnifying glasses and scissors amongst other useless goods in return for their land.

John Batman killed Tasmanian Aboriginals in 1829.

He led a roving party authorized by Lieutenant-Governor Arthur in pursuit of between 60 to 70 Tasmanian Aboriginals under Ben Lomond, capturing two including a child and wounding at least two others with buckshot.

He described to Oatlands District Police Magistrate and Legislative Councilor the Hon Thomas Anstey his actions: "After trying every means in my power, for some time, found I could not get them on," Batman reported. "I was obliged therefore to shoot them".

John Batman has a Northern Tasmanian bridge named after him.

He once had a Launceston pub in his honour and a federal electorate in Victoria, which was renamed along with a park.

There is still a Victorian avenue and a highway bearing his name. It will change.

History will eventually represent the truth.

History should be truth telling.

Those of us who went to primary and high school in the 80s and 90s can categorically tell you that we were not taught the truth.

From experience, teachers were still teaching exclusively from a colonial history viewpoint in the late 1990s.

I can vividly remember an employee of the Department of Education waxing lyrical about "truth" and the importance of Keith Windschuttle's The Fabrication of Aboriginal History, Volume One, Van Diemen's Land 1803-1847,toan assembled group of project leader professionals.

I was an impressionable young teacher and my voice remained silent, yet I knew that truth should be challenged.

In chapter five, Historical Scholarship and the Invention of Massacre Stories, Windschuttle acknowledged John Batman's deplorable and murderous act.

The City of Launceston were aware of the contested history of John Batman when they laid the paver.

They sought views from the Aboriginal community, but chose to ignore them.

Cathy Freeman, lighting the Olympic Cauldron at the Sydney 2000 Games, helped deepen our understanding and respect.

When in doubt, form a committee.

When looking for an out, form a working group.

When you are worried about political implications, call for a review.

When attempting to placate, create a statutory authority.

When you are desperate, ask for legal advice you do not require.

And when you are a lily-livered leader, scared to decide, do nothing hoping it will all go away.

Premier and the Member for Bass Peter Gutwein says send your proposal to the Places Names Advisory Panel.

The state government says they have "no intention" of renaming the Batman Bridge.

That being the case, and by omission, their support for the legacy of John Batman should be justified.

Further, if Labor is supportive of the state government's position, they should tell us why.

The City of Launceston must dig up the paver or at least participate in truth-telling.

To do or say nothing is unacceptable.

John Batman's name may be forgotten for periods of time, but like weeds in our pavers it will return along with healthy debate.