Aboriginal Affairs Minister Roger Jaensch apologises after offensive name published on government map

A recently published map, authorised by the Tasmanian government, has included a racist place name, sparking indignation from the state’s Aboriginal community.

An Aboriginal community leader says it is a “disgrace” and “unforgivable” that a racial slur was recently printed on a government-authorised map.

The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service maps display the name ‘N — erhead Rock’ to denote an island off the state’s far north-west coast.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Roger Jaensch has apologised, saying the maps would be withdrawn from sale, while the Natural Resources and Environment Department (NRE) has accepted “full responsibility”.

Michael Mansell, the chairman of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, said the state government needed to “burn” the maps.

The map showing the offensive place name.

“This is a disgrace,” he said. “It is unforgivable that any government in this day and age would publish such racist nomenclature.”

“The origin of the name clearly was generated by white racists who couldn’t care less about the effect on Aboriginal people of slurs such as ‘n — er’ when referring to us.”

Mr Mansell said the publication of the map showed that a 2012 government policy to change offensive place names had been a “failure”.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) called on Placenames Tasmania to change the name of ‘N — erhead Rock’ in 2017.

“And yet the government goes ahead with printing maps on which are racist slurs,” Mr Mansell said.

Michael Mansell Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre in Launceston. Picture Rob Burnett

“Clearly, there is no system in place to ensure the Aboriginal community is consulted before new maps are created.”

Mr Mansell urged the government to conduct a review of its dual-naming and renaming process.

“This event alone shows how farcical the process has become,” he said.

Mr Jaensch said the government was “very sorry and very confronted by these place names being published again”.

“It shouldn’t have happened,” he said.

A statement from NRE said the department apologised “unreservedly” for the maps, that it was taking action to resolve the issue, and that it had commenced a review of all printed map documents to identify any others that may contain the offensive place name.

Roger Jaensch. Picture: Linda Higginson

“Further, the department is considering an interim process to address urgent culturally offensive place name matters when they arise,” the statement read.

“The department did receive a naming submission from the TAC back in 2017 in relation to this geographical landmark, however the submission was withdrawn.

“The department welcomes all Tasmanian Aboriginal people, and the broader community, to highlight concerns and encourages all proposals to explore dual or replacement names.”

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