Lower Eyre Council Scraps Mandatory Acknowledgement of Country

The Lower Eyre Council in South Australia has voted to remove its mandatory Acknowledgement of Country from meetings, sparking concern among local First Nations residents. The council, which services the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula covering the traditional lands of the Nauo and Barngarla people, passed the motion with a 4-2 vote.

The motion was introduced by Councillor Neville Tresize, who stated that the practice was ceremonial and no longer carried its intended impact or significance. Lower Eyre is the latest local government area in South Australia to remove the protocol, following similar decisions by the Northern Areas Council, the City of Playford Council, and the Naracoorte Lucindale Council.

Indigenous Community Expresses Disappointment

Local Indigenous residents said the decision was made without prior consultation and expressed concern about its potential impact. Barngarla woman Emmalene Richards described the unannounced move as confronting and sad, noting that Aboriginal people were being used as a political tool. She expressed concern that the decision could create a negative ripple effect after generations of work to establish the acknowledgement.

Nauo Aboriginal Corporation vice-chairperson Jody Miller, a Nauo, Wirangu, and Kokatha descendant, said the acknowledgement serves to inform people that Aboriginal people remain present on the land. While disappointed by the lack of consultation, Miller stated he remains open to meeting with the council to discuss the matter.

Debate Within Council and Political Context

Councillor Isaac Taylor, who voted against the motion, attributed the outcome to broader trends in Australian politics rather than any local disputes over the past year. He noted that while some councillors argued the acknowledgement provided no tangible benefit to First Nations people, he disagreed with that view. Taylor announced plans to introduce a motion next month seeking to reverse the decision.

During the meeting, elected members discussed replacing the protocol with initiatives that offer tangible benefits, such as changing place names or establishing scholarship programs. Richards supported the concept of tangible benefits but questioned why the council did not engage the community before removing the existing policy.

Responses from Leadership and Political Figures

Lower Eyre Mayor Jo-Anne Quigley stated that the council respects diverse community perspectives and remains committed to reconciliation, respect, and recognizing the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. She added that the council remains open to feedback.

Local Government Association of SA president Heather Holmes-Ross noted that choices regarding cultural protocols rest with individual councils. Meanwhile, One Nation SA president Carlos Quaremba stated that his party opposes such acknowledgements and expects council members acted after listening to their constituents. Comment was also sought from the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation.