‘Welcome to country’ axed under Sydney councillor’s new plan
One Sydney council could soon get rid of ‘Welcome to country and smoking ceremonies under a bold new plan by a councillor — but there’s a catch.
NSW
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A western Sydney councillor has declared war on ‘welcome to country’ ceremonies, declaring he will scrap the practice if his party is elected as the majority at this year’s election.
Cumberland City councillor Steve Christou, who served as mayor of the council between 2017 and 2022, shared on Monday that he would dump both ‘welcome to country’ and smoking ceremonies if his party Our Local Community won the majority at local government elections to be held in September.
“If re – elected in majority at this year’s Local Government elections I give a firm commitment that Welcome to Country and traditional Smoking Ceremonies will be axed as a matter of priority,” Mr Christou wrote online on Monday.
“The people of Cumberland and Australia voted overwhelmingly to reject the Voice to Parliament Campaign with Cumberland City Council Local Government area recording one of the highest No Votes in the Country.”
Policy announcement for 2024 if re - elected in majority Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremonies at Cumberland City Council will be dumped as a matter of priority. Instead we will focus on better representing all residents and the diverse communities they represent. pic.twitter.com/RaZrHcrdSL
— Councillor Steve Christou (@ChristouSteve) January 8, 2024
Mr Christou claimed the policy didn’t reflect the needs of Cumberland’s residents, with Indigenous Australians accounting for “roughly 0.63 per cent” of the 240,000 people living inside the council area.
“(If elected) our focus will be on more accurately representing our diverse community in the issues that are affecting them primarily cost of living, and housing affordability,” he said.
Labor, which Mr Christou defected from in 2019, currently holds the majority of Cumberland Council’s seats, with eight representatives including current mayor Lisa Lake.
The Our Local Community party currently holds four seats.
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