Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Mayor Peta Pinson withdraws acknowledgement of country notice of motion

A Mid-North Coast mayor has backed down from attempts to change her council’s Indigenous acknowledgment of country protocols. It comes hot on the heels of a contentious rate freeze move.

The Port Macquarie Hastings Council building.

Port Macquarie Hastings Mayor Peta Pinson has quickly backed down from attempts to alter the council’s Indigenous acknowledgment of country proceedings at meetings.

It comes hot on the heels of Ms Pinson’s controversial move to freeze rates in the Mid-North Coast local government area.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Councillors Josh Slade, mayor Peta Pinson, Danielle Maltman and Adam Roberts known as 'team Pinson'. Picture: Facebook

Ms Pinson had hoped to enshrine a preferred acknowledgment at the start of each meeting, also acknowledging migrants and veterans, along with Biripai Indigenous elders past and present.

Ms Pinson has had a deciding vote since July last year following the resignation of councillor Sharon Griffiths.

With councillors often locked four/four, Ms Pinson’s powerful vote has come into play during important decisions recently, including the abolition of the deputy mayor role.

Last month, Ms Pinson used her vote to push through a controversial rate freeze criticised by Port Macquarie state MP Leslie Williams. She slammed so-called “Team Pinson” councillors Adam Roberts, Josh Slade and Danielle Maltman.

Ms Williams believed they were “putting their own political agenda ahead of the community”.

Acknowledgement of country, often carried out at events, ceremonies and meetings, “shows respect by upholding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols”, Reconciliation Australia states.

Arly Gili Mehan is a cultural consultant from Port Macquarie. She lashed the suggested changes.

In a council statement on Tuesday morning titled Withdrawal of Item 10.03 Notice of Motion at Ordinary Council Meeting, it was confirmed the motion had been withdrawn.

“On Monday afternoon, I advised CEO Dr Clare Allen of my decision to formally withdraw Item 10.03 from the 18 July Ordinary Council Meeting agenda,” the statement read.

“For the past two years I have been very publicly delivering what I thought was an inclusive message to our community by acknowledging our First Nations people, and in addition, our migrants who helped build the great multinational country we are today and our service men and women who have protected our freedoms and our way of life.”

Ms Pinson said the had done so routinely at meetings citizenship ceremonies and other events “without any complaints from any community member, councillor or council staff”.

“Off the back of the extremely disappointing and in some cases vitriolic feedback I have received on this item, I have decided to withdraw the motion from the upcoming Council meeting this week,” she said.

“I do this as it was never my intention to hurt or offend anyone in our community, with a suggested enhancement of Council’s acknowledgement of country.”

Ms Pinson is due to step down at the September council elections. Councillor Rachel Sheppard – one of the four councillors who have consistently voted against “Team Pinson” – said the suggested notice was another “parting gift to stoke further community division”.

Port Macquarie councillor Rachel Sheppard is one of the four councillors who has opposed the mayor and those voting in favour, along with Nik Lipovac, Lauren Edwards and Lisa Intemann.

She says there was no consultation and no appetite for the changes.

Local Biripai woman and cultural consultant Arly Gili Mehan was angered by the idea before it was dumped.

She urged residents to contact councillors and protest, and pointed to “systemic racism” more generally.

Ms Mehan applied to address a public forum prior to the meeting and called for others to “make some noise” before Tuesday’s statement emerged.

Port Macquarie councillor Rachel Sheppard also weighed in: “After Team Pinson drove the irresponsible rate freeze, I thought Mayor Pinson couldn't do much more damage to council’s reputation and relationship with our community – it turns out I was wrong.”

However, Ms Pinson earlier said the motion was put forward in the spirit of inclusion. She described the now-canned changes as a contemporary alteration and a step towards reconciliation.

“In addition to paying respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, via the acknowledgement of country, an addition of acknowledging our migrants who have made a life for themselves and their families, and contributed in the growth and prosperity of our country is an appropriate gesture,” she said.

“As is the acknowledgment of our service men and women who have served and fought, or are still proudly serving, to protect our freedoms and democracy.”

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Originally published as Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Mayor Peta Pinson withdraws acknowledgement of country notice of motion