Straddie businesses fear tourism impacts from Welcome to Country fees
An Indigenous land council’s $500 fee for beach use with proceeds to go to fund Welcome to Country ceremonies has raised questions from top tourist hubs.
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An Indigenous land council’s request to charge a surf life saving club $500 to use its beach with proceeds to pay for Welcome to Country ceremonies has sent shockwaves through some of Queensland’s top tourist destinations.
Small businesses on North Stradbroke Island, one of the state’s tourist hotspots, raised concerns about the Yaegl Local Aboriginal Land Council charging the Yamba Surf Lifesaving Club $500 to use the beach, with proceeds for Welcome to Country ceremonies.
Yaegl land council has since said there had been a “misunderstanding” and the fee was for the local council or state government and not the surf club.
Point Lookout Surf Life Saving Club president Matt Robinson said the club had a great relationship with the traditional owners and had not had to pay for a Welcome to Country ceremony recently.
“If we’ve ever had a need to pay for such a service, we have just consulted with the traditional owners directly and we have had no problem,” Mr Robinson said.
The lease of the club land from the state government owners will come up for renewal within the next four years.
Dunwich Business Group spokesman Bill Giles said it would be disappointing if a fee became a regular imposition on the local Redland City Council ratepayer or the state taxpayer and suggested an “Acknowledgment of Country” instead.
Mr Giles said frequent ceremonial charges might deter recreational activities and impact community events.
“The Life Saving Club at Point Lookout is a volunteer organisation and provides a massive service to the whole community, and $500 every Saturday is just going to put massive financial pressure on the club and would be unsustainable,” Mr Giles said.
“What we suggest instead of a Welcome to Country ceremony is an Acknowledgement of Country, which a club president can undertake as a sign of honour and respect for the traditional owners.
“Welcome to Country ceremonies can be kept for special occasions.”
Bowman MP Henry Pike, whose federal electorate covers North Stradbroke Island, questioned the occasions that Welcome to Country was used as a sign of respect.
In an email sent to island residents this week, Mr Pike outlined an unrelated instance where he believed the Welcome to Country had been “misused” during a court hearing.
“This week, in Taree District Court, an Indigenous teenager, who pleaded guilty to robbing two elderly women — one 92 and the other 88 — was invited to perform a Welcome to Country before being sentenced,” Mr Pike said.
“This is a young man who admitted to not only breaking into their homes but also to sexually touching one of these women during his terrifying invasion.
“Yet, despite the gravity of his offences, the judge invited him to perform this welcome — a shocking display of misplaced priorities.
“It is an appalling failure to prioritise the wellbeing of victims, the integrity of our justice system, and simple common decency.
“Let’s do away with the virtue signalling.”
North Stradbroke Island was to be the site for the first Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry on the weekend but the incoming Crisafulli Government scrapped the event with the inquiry chair Joshua Creamer announcing the body would pause its work.
North Stradbroke Island’s Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation was contacted for comment.
Redland council’s website outlines grants of up to $1500 that any group can apply for to pay for Welcome to Country ceremonies.
“Council recognises there is a cost to deliver a Welcome to Country for public facing events, in the same way artists are paid a performance fee to sing the National Anthem at Australia Day Awards and citizenship ceremonies, and carols at Christmas events,” Redland said.
The council added it also paid to have Welcome to Country ceremonies at council events.
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Originally published as Straddie businesses fear tourism impacts from Welcome to Country fees
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