Mon Repos name change sparks language controversy

MPs are at loggerheads over the renaming of the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, with accusations of “political overreach”, and confusion about what First Nations’ language was most fitting.

Kerry Blackman and Stephen Bennett have come together to condemn the actions of the Member for Bundaberg.

A push to change the name of the Mon Repos Turtle Centre to Milbi Centre @ Mon Repos has sparked controversy over First Nations language and allegations of “political overreach”.

In a press release distributed on October 31, LNP Burnett MP Stephen Bennett and Gidarjil Development Corporation CEO Dr Kerry Blackman came together to condemn the actions of Labor Bundaberg MP Tom Smith, who they claimed had “secretly blocked” the renaming process.

The pair said Mr Smith went behind local elders’ backs by contacting Environment Minister Leanne Linard to “put a stop to the proposed new name” and that he had “serious political overreach”.

Mr Smith and Ms Linard have completely rejected the claims.

“By asking Ms Linard to walk back on the previous minister’s promises, it’s clear the Member for Bundaberg doesn’t have an effective understanding or factual evidence that can be linguistically verified to support his claims,” Mr Bennett said.

Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith has rejected claims he had blocked the name change.

However, Mr Smith said he made no efforts to stop the name change, and was simply raising an issue which was brought to him by elders at the Taribelang Bunda PBC.

“As a member of the Queensland government, it is my responsibility to ensure ministers are made aware of local matters raised by constituents,” he said.

Taribelang Aboriginal Corporation Manager Rebecca Domaille said that directors and elders approached Tom Smith over the proposed name change.

“We were taken aback, first of all, because we were not consulted in any way shape or form to that name change and we are the traditional owners of that land,” she said.

Ms Linard also backed Mr Smith, saying he’d made no efforts to “stop” the name change.

LNP Burnett MP Stephen Bennett has claimed Bundaberg Labor MP Tom Smith “doesn’t have an effective understanding or factual evidence that can be linguistically verified to support his claims.”

“I reject Mr Bennett’s claim about the Member for Bundaberg in the strongest possible terms. I also find Mr Bennett’s comments disingenuous considering I briefed him in Brisbane last week and he told me that he understood the cultural sensitivity of this matter,” she said.

“As good local members do, the Member for Bundaberg made me aware of concerns held by some in his community about the proposed renaming of the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.

“I passed these concerns on to the Department of Environment and Science and asked that they were investigated. This work is ongoing.”

Mr Bennett and Mr Blackman said the proposed name was confirmed by “the Central Queensland Language Centre with the word ‘Milbi’ being the most appropriate First Nation language name for ‘turtle’.”

The CQLC is a subsidiary of the Gidarjil Corporation.

Gidarjil Development Corporation CEO Kerry Blackman.

Concerns over the word “milbi” were echoed by Industry Fellow with the University of Queensland’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Goreng Goreng man Robert McLellan.

“I’ll just say very clearly, and I’ve spent a lot of time researching the material around Central Queensland and South East Queensland; there is no objective data suggesting that ‘milbi’ is an appropriate word for the saltwater turtle,” he said.

“Milbi is reported as a freshwater turtle, or in some instances as a generic turtle, but it is the data provenance that is critical, noting much of the corresponding research derives from freshwater areas.”

He said while the word “milbi” had significance due to being part of the totemic system, the word “miiba/meeba/meebar”, meaning salt water turtle, was more appropriate.

Environment Minister Leanne Linard rejected the claim Labor MP Tom Smith blocked the name change.

“Most mob locally, know the distinct delineation between milbi and miiba and have so for generations,” Mr McLellan said.

Mr Blackman said the name change had been on the cards since the 2017 Native Title consent determination, and the Department of Environment and Science “advised Gidarjil that the rebranding of the Milbi Centre was proceeding”.

“On that basis, Gidarjil invested $25,000 on merchandise, gifts and uniforms,” Mr Blackman said.

When the DES was contacted for confirmation of the timeline behind the name change, they said the process was ongoing.

“The Department of Environment and Science continues to consult with traditional owners to identity a suitable name for the proposed renaming of the Mon Repos Turtle Centre,” a spokesman said.