Hills Shire Council continues to reject Aboriginal acknowledgment

A SYDNEY council has again refused to introduce an ‘acknowledgement of country’ at meetings as a mark of respect to the original indigenous custodians of the region labelling the push “mischief making”.

Elizabeth Badaoui helping Ray Kyle and Walangari Karntawarra hoist the Aboriginal flag at Baulkham Hills.

THE Hills Shire Council has again rejected acknowledgment of Aboriginal heritage in the region, labelling calls for it “mischief making”.

On Tuesday night, a notice of motion on the issue to acknowledge the indigenous heritage of the region was lost.

Councillor Tony Hay called for the council to start each meeting with the “acknowledge of country” at each general meeting, with support from fellow Labor councillors Raymond Harty and Ryan Tracey.

Hills Shire councillor Tony Hay.

Councillor Ryan Tracey.

Councillor Raymond Harty.

“I stand with my colleagues on the right side of this debate and history,” Cr Hay said.

“This council has taken a peculiar stand on this issue and is completely out of touch.”

Cr Harty said it was mystifying that other surrounding councils, state and federal government acknowledged First Australians but the Hills Shire Council did not.

Cr Tracey said acknowledgment aimed to pay respect.

“We have a number of things built into our meeting agenda and having an acknowledgment makes sense,” Cr Tracey said.

“The Hills has a rich Aboriginal history of more than 65,000 years and the Durug elders want this council to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land.”

Diramu Aboriginal artists perform at Baulkham Hills Preschool last year.

However, before councillors voted on the issue, Liberal councillor Robyn Preston said “bring it on” when Cr Hay suggested he would campaign on the issue.

Hills Shire councillor Mike Thomas.

Deputy Mayor Robyn Preston.

Hills Shire councillor Alan Haselden.

Councillor Mike Thomas said Labor councillors were dealing with the acknowledgment matter in a “strange and bizarre way”.

“There is nothing new about this matter being raised,” Cr Thomas said.

“We are being told to believe that there was some brave injustice and outrage occurring but ALP councillors voted on the way we run our meetings.

“This is not a campaign that resonates with our community.”

Councillor Alan Haselden said he was convinced the campaign was “mischief making”.

“If this was such a burning issue I would have expected reference would have been made during the election,” Cr Haselden said.