28-05-2025
Welcome to Country to stay after Flinders Island council rejects move to end Aboriginal protocol
Flinders Island councillors have rejected a motion to cease Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country at events the council is involved in.
Councillor Garry Blenkhorn put forward the motion at the Tasmanian council's meeting on Wednesday, but it failed to get a seconder.
Around 50 people, including many from Tasmanian Aboriginal communities, were present when the motion was put to the council.
All those present were against the motion.
In his councillor's report for putting forward the motion, Cr 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.
"The use of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country is seen as divisive, unnecessary and not contributing to reconciliation between Indigenous Australians and others," Cr Blenkhorn wrote.
The motion was not discussed by council before the meeting and the community had not been consulted.
Cr Blenkhorn has previously told the ABC he'd been approached by "well over a hundred people" on the topic and "for that reason presented the motion."
Speaking at the meeting after the motion lapsed, Flinders Island Deputy Mayor Vanessa Grace said she was dismayed to read the motion.
"While Cr Blenkhorn says he is representing up to 100 people's views and he's brought them all forward, such a significant change should have been brought to council for a workshop, discussion and collaborations with the community and the key stakeholders, the Aboriginal communities," she said.
Denise Gardner, who represents the Cape Barron Island Aboriginal Association and Aboriginal people on Truwana/Cape Barron Island, was one of many in the public gallery who cheered and clapped after the motion stalled.
"We were quite elated but not surprised at the outcome," Ms Gardner said.
"We had half a dozen people fly over from Truwana Island to attend and had people on Skype watching the proceedings."
She said many had been "flabbergasted" the motion was being put forward, especially during National Reconciliation Week.
"It's just amazing that it would be a motion at what is quite a sensitive time for people when we're all trying to go forward," she said.
"Flinders Council have done a lot of work with communities on Flinders and Truwana/Cape Barron to get work together, get on with business and work together on common causes and for the best part that has been happening.
"We move forward on that."
Flinders Island Mayor Rachel Summers said it was "a good move" of councillors to not second the motion.
"Councillors spoke out in support of our community rather than the motion, so it was really good to see that," Cr Summers said.
But she said the motion had caused damage.
"Unfortunately, damage has been done out of this and I really hope council can work with our Aboriginal community, with the organisations that represent those communities and find a way to walk forward together."
Cr Blenkhorn has been contacted for comment.
