Donnybrook-Balingup Shire delays vote on updating acknowledgement of country wording amid inclusivity concerns

A South West council has deferred its update of its welcome to, and acknowledgement of, country policy amid concerns it is not inclusive enough. The Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup was set to vote on the wording used by the council at last month’s meeting as part of its three-year review of the policy. But the final vote on the updates have been delayed after councillors raised concerns about Noongar language groups not being mentioned in the acknowledgement of country. Council documents state the shire consulted with the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council before the vote, with corporate services manager Loren Clifford telling the meeting advice received recommended keeping the acknowledgement of country wording at a higher level. “We’ve just kept it at the Noongar nation because Donnybrook, the shire itself, not just the building that we’re in, obviously crosses over two areas and if we are going to mention dialects then we need to mention all of them and that was the feedback I got from them,” she said. “I have not been able to get any information from the corporations that are specifically in our area, which is the Gnaarla Karla Boodja region.” Cr Alexis Davy was against the policy changes being passed as is, expressing her reservations. “The point of the policy is to be inclusive and the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup actually covers two regional corporations, this only mentions one, and I think we only cover three language groups which I don’t see as a significant undertaking to update the document,” she said. Shire president Vivienne MacCarthy admitted she was “a bit nervous” about approving the acknowledgement of country as is. “Based on the information I’ve received, it’s incorrect not to include the dialects,” she said. “I’m a little confused because the recommendation is from the Aboriginal Corporation so I’m feeling a bit at sea.” Following the concerns, Cr Anita Lindermann requested the vote be deferred to ensure a better outcome. “If we don’t know, why are we changing it?” she said. The vote to delay a decision was passed unanimously.