3rd SA Council Replaces Acknowledgement of Country

A local government authority in Australia has replaced the Acknowledgement of Country with a simple two-line welcome at the start of meetings.

Mayor Patrick Ross pushed to make changes to the operating procedures at meetings of the regional Naracoorte Lucindale Council in South Australia’s southeast.

A new statement to open Council meetings now reads, “We acknowledge and respect our complex history. We welcome everyone to build our future together.”

This replaces a statement that acknowledged the traditional owners of the land and the deep feelings of Aboriginal peoples toward the country.

“We acknowledge and respect the traditional owners of the ancestral lands of the Limestone Coast. We acknowledge elders past and present and we respect the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of Aboriginal peoples to country,” the original statement said.

Commenting on the changes, Mayor Ross said the Naracoorte Lucindale Council was acting on behalf of all residents and ratepayers.

“To that end, a general acknowledgement of our history and an inclusive welcome is what is desired by our community,” he said according to Council minutes (pdf).

“According to the LGA handbook, a welcome may be a simple welcome—some include a prayer and others make statements around what they wish to achieve within a meeting regarding collaboration.

“Elected Members have read a pledge and signed up to represent their community for a term of 4 years. The community has an elevated expectation of the Elected Members to do just that and therefore I see no reason to continue to reiterate that which we have agreed to do.”

Further commenting on the change, Mr. Ross said all statements should be kept simple.

“The modern society which we live in is so diverse in culture, language and religion, that either an omission or inclusion may be divisive, and therefore I’m happy to put forward this proposal,” he said.

The motion was carried six votes to four. A prayer at the opening of council meetings which did not mention God has also been removed.

“We gather to make decisions for our community. May we use only our best skills and judgement keeping ourselves impartial and neutral as we consider the merits and pitfalls of each matter that is placed before us and always act in accordance with what is best for our community and our fellow citizens,” the prayer read.

Reconciliation South Australia ‘Deeply Disappointed’

Reconciliation SA said it was “deeply disappointed” that the majority of elected members of the Council voted to replace the Acknowledgement to Country.

CEO Jason Downs said erasing the existence of a culture to “keep things simple” is not a good position for a region that relies on tourism.

“We see this as walking back progress and signaling a lack of understanding of the significant and important role of First Nations culture,” Mr. Downs said.

“When you remove Acknowledgements to Country and Elders you remove visibility and you diminish the importance of First Nations in our Country’s 65,000 year history. We are the only country to lay claim to the world’s oldest living culture. For those unaware, Naracoorte is derived from First Nations language.”

Mr. Downs said when individual ideology impacts on a community’s future and business growth, there is cause for concern.

“We support all our Allies and First Nations people and will continue to challenge the ongoing demise of First Nations position in South Australia,” he said.

“Reconciliation SA extends its hand to the elected members and council staff for a workshop to provide context, advice and perspective on the importance, relevance and need to embrace the rich cultural history of our country.”

‘Praiseworthy’: One Nation MLC Sarah Game

However, One Nation member of the South Australian Legislative Council, Sarah Game, welcomed the move in a statement posted to X on March. 4.

“The Naracoorte Council will replace its Acknowledgement of Country with a more inclusive statement that reflects the entire community. The council’s alignment with the community they serve is praiseworthy,” she said.

The Naracoorte Council will replace its Acknowledgement of Country with a more inclusive statement that reflects the entire community. The council’s alignment with the community they serve is praiseworthy.

Currently, the council nomination process allows for confidential… pic.twitter.com/1XkhZPuPFG

— Sarah Game MLC (@MLCGame) March 4, 2024

2 Other South Australian Councils Stop Acknowledgement

City of Playford and Northern Areas Council in South Australia have also passed motions in recent months to replace the Acknowledgement of Country.

The City of Playford carried a motion to scrap a verbal Acknowledgement of Country, during a meeting held on Nov. 28, 2023.

Instead, the Council included a statement on their website and reserved the Acknowledgement for special occasions.

Councillor David Kerrison said reading the Acknowledgement at every meeting was “going overboard.”

“‘I listen to the younger generation who attend university and colleges – it’s being read out before every lecture,” he said.

“‘I think it’s gone a little too far and, for me, I also don’t think it’s balanced.”

In addition, the Northern Areas Council in regional South Australia adopted a motion to delete the Acknowledgement of Country and banner on all official correspondence (pdf).