King Charlie statue: Alice Springs Town Council passes motion for ‘guidance and advice’ on commissioning statue

Debate on a statue of a Arrernte leader resulted in one Red Centre councillor saying no one who knows he was, while another called on his fellow members “not to get caught in the political bulls**t”. Find out why they’re divided.

Alice Springs Town Council meetings are held once month in council chambers, Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

A potential statue for an Arrernte leader in the Red Centre capital has left the town council seeking more guidance – with one councillor calling on his fellow chamber members to “not get caught up in the political bulls**t of Aboriginal issues”.

At the Tuesday, August 27, ordinary council meeting, the Alice Springs Town Council was again debating whether or not the town should have a statue of Arrernte leader King Charlie.

In the officer’s report, the council was set to vote on three different outcomes: to approve the King Charlie statue; to release an expression of interest to commission a different statue which depicted a “group or collage of unidentified Arrernte people”; or to release an expression of interest to commission a third roundabout art project.

After much discussion, the council voted for none of the three – instead passing a motion for a fourth recommendation.

The motion for the fourth recommendation sought council to write to the Strehlow Research Centre to “provide guidance and advice on commissioning of a King Charlie statue” and invite Lhere Artepe Corporation to a joint meeting.

Alice Springs Councillor Michael Liddle. Picture: Facebook/ Desert Knowledge Australia

Debate around the statue was mainly between councillors Michael Liddle and Marli Banks, with Mr Liddle pushing for the statue.

“Let not get caught up in the political bulls**t of Aboriginal issues,” he said, after going on a tangent about Welcome to Country ceremonies.

“We’re focusing on this bloke (King Charlie) here, about the Arrernte existence in this country.

“This person we’ve put forward is supported by people who understand Aboriginal Arrernte law.

“I don’t think that it will cause any sort of issues amongst the people, I think the person who we put forward, in King Charlie, is the most qualified to be made a statue.”

Alice Springs councillor Marli Banks. Picture: Alice Springs Town Council

In the council-conducted King Charlie Feasibility report, key stakeholders consulted for the statue were Lhere Artepe Corporation – which did not support the idea – as well as a NAIDOC Day consultation, and two of King Charlie’s descendants: Ian Conway and Sam Wickman, who both supported the statue.

However, Ms Banks said when she conducted her own consultation, no one knew who King Charlie was.

“I have spoken to who I understand to be traditional owners, and they don’t know who King Charlie is,” she said.

“I won’t support this statue.”

Ms Banks said she formed her position because she wanted to see more clarity around where King Charlie’s story originated from.

“I do feel this is important, because it will inflate tensions, and there is not enough information of who is saying those stories are from,” she said.

The motion was moved by Mr Liddle, seconded by Ms Banks, and carried.