Flinders Council is set to decide this week whether to drop Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies from its meetings and public events.
Councillor Garry Blenkhorn has put forward a motion to remove “all references” of the protocol “in any event or publication involving the council”, including meetings, committee gatherings and official reports.
Blenkhorn said there had been “an increase in discontent throughout Australia regarding the use of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country at public events”.
He called the protocols “divisive, unnecessary and not contributing to reconciliation”.
“I believe the two protocols have served their purpose and it is now time to move on,” he said in his motion to Wednesday’s council meeting.
“These protocols are not historical and have only existed for around 50 years.”
The councillor cited the recent Indigenous Voice referendum results, where 60% of Australians voted no. On Flinders Island, the result was slightly closer, with 54.4% voting no and 45.6% voting yes.
The proposal has raised concerns among council staff and local Aboriginal organisations.
General Manager Warren Groves said he consulted with the chief executives of the Flinders Island Aboriginal Association, Cape Barren Island Aboriginal Association and the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania.
“All three CEOs are strongly opposed to any proposed withdrawal of the Welcome to or Acknowledgement of Country from council proceedings,” Groves said.
“I am concerned that any such action will cause potentially significant offence and affront to those associations and the communities they represent.”
The palawa people of the trawulwai Nation are recognised as traditional owners of the Furneaux Islands, where Flinders Island is located, at the start of every council meeting.
