Saying once ‘is enough’

AN UPDATED policy that would have required all Loddon Shire councillors and staff to individually give an acknowledge of Aboriginal traditional ownership at events and meetings has been sent back to the drawing board.

A majority of councillors rejected the new the Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners and Welcome to Country Policy with some questioning the change from “country” to “owners” at last Tuesday’s meeting.

Cr Gavan Holt said the first shire representative to speak at functions represented the organisation.

“How is respect enhanced by 10 people doing it (a welcome)?” he asked.

Cr Neil Beattie said he shared the opinion of Cr Holt.

“Once it’s been said, I don’t the need for the acknowledgement to be done again,” said Cr Beattie.

He said at Australian Local Government Association conferences the acknowledgement could be given at least 20 times and “it gets overbearing”.

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But Cr Wendy Murphy said it was the right of subsequent speakers at functions whether to give an acknowledgement.

And Cr Linda Jungwirth said while she could see limiting acknowledgement to one speaker could “help the event run more smoothly ... people will do the acknowledgement if they want”.

Community wellbeing director Wendy Gladman said the previous policy said there would be only one acknowledgement but there were other agencies that might choose to given their own acknowledgment.

“We haven’t specifically excluded Lod-

Future bush access important: Straub

SITES included in the Goldfields World Heritage bid should not lead to a blanket ban on use, Cr Dan Straub told last week’s Loddon Shire Council meeting.

Councillors were told the World Heritage Bid was not seeking a blanket protection of public land in the region but instead will focus on 10 to 20 specific sites across the 13 council areas.

“I hope these words will be true,” Cr Straub said.

He said he would continue to have reservations on whether the bid would lead to removing access to areas for bush user groups.

In his report, chief executive officer Lincoln Fitzgerald said an economic analysis showed a $25 million boost to the region if the bid was successful.

Council re-affirmed its participation in the bid. Cr Gavan Holt said the “minimalist motion” did not “preclude us from changing out minds”.

Women discuss ‘ambitious target’

A LOCAL government group wants 55 per cent of councillors to be women, Cr Wendy Murphy told last week’s Loddon Shire meeting.

Cr Murphy said she had attended the recent online session of the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter that had the target of 55 per cent female representation.

Cr Murphy said 43 per cent of Victorian councillors were currently women and the target “was not quite there yet but (there are) always more and more women putting their hand up for local government”.

Loddon is a signatory to the charter for improving the representation of women as elected representatives.

don councillors or staff with the understanding that some staff or councillors may wish to have their own acknowledgement as they speak as well,” Mrs Gladman said.

Cr Holt asked why council had changed its position. Mrs Gladman said: “It was probably a little bit of an oversight in the wording ... subsequent speakers may choose what’s in the state guidelines when representing other agencies.”

Mrs Gladman said the policy could be amended to reflect who gave the acknowledgement on behalf of the council.

Cr Holt said it would be the “call” of non-Loddon speakers to give an acknowledgment.

“The first person to speak represents us and shows our respect,” he said.

Cr Holt said he found the policy patronising and did not to support First Nations people and the challenges they were facing in Alice Springs.

“I am concerned about what is happening in Alice Springs at the moment,” he said.

The recommendation to adopt the new policy, that would define acknowledgement of Dja Dja Wurrung as traditional owners, was defeated with only Cr Murphy and Cr Jungwirth in favour.

Cr Jungwirth said: “People need to be allowed to make their own decisions on what they can say.

“I find it (the policy) respectful ... shows more thoughtfulness and inclusion (to Dja Dja Wurrung).

Cr Murphy said: “We should be respecting everyone who is invited to an event and they say what they like.

The land was never ceded and the pol- icy recognises Dja Dja Wurrung,” said Cr Murphy.

A subsequent motion to defer consideration was moved by Cr Holt who said he agreed with most of the updated policy. That motion was carried.

Mrs Gladman’s report considered by councillors said key changes in the new policy included: z changing from Acknowledgement of Country to Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners to more accurately reflect the action being undertaken; z changing of the term ‘custodian’ to ‘owner’ to reflect the change in language at State Government level;

The inclusion of only the Dja Dja Wurrung people to be referenced by name, reflecting State Government guidelines indicating that a reference to a specific traditional owner group in an acknowledgement is completed for formally recognised Traditional Owners on the land which your event is taking place.

Her report also said: “The practice of acknowledging Traditional Owners or being welcomed to Country at official events can engender polarising opinions within the community.

“This may be balanced through the provision of supporting background information to the community and ongoing cultural awareness training for Council staff.”

Dja Dja Wurrung was contacted regarding their preferred title to be used in an acknowledgement of traditional owners as part of the updated policy preparation, said Mrs Gladman.

A revised policy is expected before council this year.