Even though Australia overwhelmingly rejected an Indigenous voice in Parliament, an inner-city council voted unanimously to establish a similar body.
Melbourne’s 11 city councilors voted Tuesday night to establish a First Nations advisory committee that will “participate in the governance of the council.”
According to its draft terms of reference, the committee will ensure that “First Nations voices and aspirations must be integrated into our core business and decision-making at all levels as we strive for reconciliation, recognition, respect and TRUE”.
Melbourne City Council, which meets at Central City Hall (pictured), voted to establish an Indigenous advisory body.
To carry out this role, the committee will “provide advice to inform the development and implementation of strategies, policies and plans adopted by the City of Melbourne on matters that may affect First Nations people and communities.”
There will be 12 representatives on the committee, although only nine must be First Nations representatives who “collectively represent the broad demographics” of the City of Melbourne’s First Nations communities.
The city of Melbourne is located on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin nation.
The nine representatives, who will serve three-year appointments, will be paid $300 per meeting as honoraria, and the committee will meet at least four times a year, with a budget of $30,000 allocated to cover startup costs.
Melbourne Mayor Sally Capp, who holds the Melbourne Aboriginal portfolio, will lead the committee.
Cr Capp said the committee represented a “clear statement” from the council.will participate meaningfully with First Nations communities in decisions that affect their communities.
“We must stand up for First Nations people and raise their voices and I look forward to working with the committee to strengthen our path of reconciliation,” he said.
While only 39 per cent of voters backed the constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament proposal in the October referendum, the measure received 77 per cent support in the Melbourne city council area.
Councils adjacent to the city of Melbourne, including Yarra and Darebin, have already introduced Indigenous advisory councils.
Meanwhile, regional area councils have been debating whether to continue opening all official meetings with a Country Recognition.
South Australia’s Naracoorte Lucindale Council, which covers the state’s Limestone Coast region, voted last week to replace the Recognition with a “more inclusive statement”.
Future meetings will begin with an amended acknowledgment: ‘We recognize and respect our complex history. We welcome everyone to build our future together.”
Melbourne Mayor Sally Capp (pictured) said the new committee would stand up for First Nations people.
Indigenous artists from the Bunurong Boon Wurrung people of Melbourne perform a welcome to the country
Reconciliation SA criticized the move, claiming it was an example of the council “rolling back progress”.
Mayor Patrick Ross Ross defended the change, saying it was in line with recommended protocols.
“I was guided by the local government manual, which does not mention Country Recognition,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘It was clear to me that everything we do as a council must be inclusive.
“About 25 percent of our community was born abroad, in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria, so I didn’t see the need to pray.”
Late last year, the Northern Areas Council, located 200 kilometers north of Adelaide, passed a motion to remove official recognition of meetings and official correspondence.
