The Northern Territory’s Chief Minister has doubled down on her speech at an event marking the Bombing of Darwin, prompting a prominent local elder to lash out on social media.
Country Liberal leader Lia Finocchiaro made no reference to the local traditional owners, the Larrakia people, in her address last Wednesday on the anniversary of the Japanese aerial assault on the city in WWII.
Seven other dignitaries, including Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce and Deputy PM Richard Marles, also made remarks at the event – and each of their speeches began with an Acknowledgement of Country.
Ms Finocchiaro on Monday responded to critics and argued that the acknowledgements had lost their meaning because they are performed too often.
‘As Chief Minister I represent all Territorians,’ she said, according to Sky News.
‘There is absolutely no need for every speaker at an event to do an Acknowledgement of Country and, in fact, the repetition that people are so used to under labor, is less impactful.’
Instead, Ms Finocchiaro opened her speech by addressing Australian ex-servicemen and women.
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro made a speech at last week’s Darwin bombing memorial
However, the Country Liberal leader chose not to acknowledge traditional Larrakia owners (pictured right at the event)
‘I’d like to make a special acknowledgement to the veterans here today, to serving men and women, to the families and descendants of survivors, ladies and gentlemen, but importantly to our children,’ she said.
Many other politicians and members of First Nations groups were left unimpressed by the blatant omission.
Tiwi man and Labor MP Manuel Brown said the move was worrying.
‘Very concerning when the Chief Minister doesn’t acknowledge the traditional owners in her speeches as she did today in the bombing of Darwin event,’ he wrote in a post on Facebook.
Independent MP Justine Davis replied: ‘Yes – the only speaker who did not. Even Barnaby Joyce did.’
Larrakia elder Dr Richard Fejo Senior also expressed his disappointment.
‘My Larrakia grandfather Juma Fejo fought alongside Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal and allies and saved many lives when they fought as one for the ground you walk on today at the bombing of Darwin,’ he said.
The event commemorated the 83rd anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin in World War II
‘This is who you refuse to acknowledge at the Bombing of Darwin event, shame on you.’
‘Good leadership is not about selfishness but about selflessness!’
Ms Finocchiaro’s move followed her Liberal colleagues’ calls to review federal funding for Welcome to Country ceremonies.
‘I don’t believe that we should be spending $450,000 a term on Welcome to Country when that isn’t actually improving the life of a marginalised Indigenous Australian,’ Opposition government waste spokesperson Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said.
