Another SA council scraps Acknowledgement of Country

Lower Eyre Council has passed a motion to scrap its mandatory Acknowledgement of Country.

One councillor said the decision, made without consultation, reflects the rising popularity of conservative politics rather than any direct dispute with local First Nations people.

Indigenous residents fear the decision will create a negative "ripple effect" and say they are open to discussing the matter.

A South Australian council's decision to scrap the Acknowledgement of Country from its meetings without consultation is "confronting" and "sad", First Nations people say.

Lower Eyre Council voted 4-2 in favour of councillor Neville Tresize's motion, which said the acknowledgement was "ceremonial" and "no longer" carried "the significance or impact intended".

About 6,000 people live in the council area, which covers the traditional lands of the Nauo and Barngarla people on southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula.

Barngarla woman Emmalene Richards said it was "confronting" that the motion was passed without warning.

"It shouldn't be up for debate for people to cast their own perspectives and options," she said.

"Where's it going to end? We are constantly, as Aboriginal people, being used as a political tool, which is really sad.

"It will create a bit of a ripple effect, negatively, for Aboriginal people because we've worked really, really hard for many generations to have [the acknowledgement] put in place."

Elder Jody Miller, a Nauo, Wirangu and Kokatha descendant and vice-chairperson for the Nauo Aboriginal Corporation, said it was "sad" the decision was made without consultation.

"[The Acknowledgement of Country] is about letting people know that Aboriginal people were here, they are still here and they will be here in the future," he said.

Mr Miller said it was "a big thing," to be acknowledged "especially because so much of our history has been lost".

But he said he was open to a discussion with the council.

"We can have a cup of tea and start a conversation so we can all live together," Mr Miller said.

Lower Eyre Council is the latest in the state to remove the Acknowledgement of Country since 2024. It follows the Northern Areas Council, the City of Playford Council and the Naracoorte Lucindale Council.

Lower Eyre Mayor Jo-Anne Quigley said the council remained committed to reconciliation, respect and recognising the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the Lower Eyre community and was open to feedback.

"Council understands that members of the community will hold a range of views on this matter, and respects the diversity of perspectives that exist across the community," she said.

Councillor Isaac Taylor, who voted to keep the acknowledgement, said the dominant discussion in the chamber was about the significance of the practice.

He planned to introduce a motion next month to reverse the decision.

"There's an attitude that it doesn't reflect any benefit to First Nations people to acknowledge country," Cr Taylor said.

"I disagree with that viewpoint, but it's a viewpoint people have."

He said there were "no issues locally" over the past twelve months that led to the motion.

"I think it's a broader reflection of Australian politics at the moment," Cr Taylor said.

"We've seen the rise of One Nation and other resistance politics. I think that's given a voice for people to be more open about things they might've disagreed with behind closed doors."

He said there was a discussion during the meeting about the acknowledgement being replaced by something that would provide a "tangible benefit" to First Nations people, such as a scholarship program or the changing of place names.

Ms Richards was supportive of that idea but said it was a confusing way to go about it.

"Why would you remove something to improve it when you could just have engaged community to work with council?" she said.

Local Government Association of SA president Heather Holmes-Ross said cultural protocol choices were determined by councils.

One Nation SA president Carlos Quaremba said the party had "always opposed racially divisive rituals like acknowledgements of country" and that he suspected Lower Eyre Council would not "be the last" to drop the acknowledgement.

"One Nation expects that elected members of Lower Eyre Council have consulted with their constituents on this matter, listened to their views, and acted accordingly," he said in a statement.

Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation has been contacted for comment.