Port Hedland council welcome to country controversy rears head once again

Port Hedland council’s welcome to country controversy reared its head once again at the August meeting with a community member labelling the ceremony as “manipulative,” “nonsense” and “divisive”. Using public statement time to deliver a speech, South Hedland resident John Ashenden said the council was ignoring the contributions made by other nationalities by acknowledging traditional owners at the start of council meetings. “Must we continue to play the victim card? Must every council meeting become an opportunity to bash those of English and European descent?” he said. “It is time to stop the nonsense and work together to build a community that respects all cultures and heritages without allowing any one group to be manipulated for political or administrative gain. “For the love of unity and progress can we please move beyond this divisive rhetoric and come together as one people? We must stop playing the race card and focus on the real issues at hand.” It comes after two-time council hopeful and dentist Roger Higgins used public question time to call for the removal of acknowledgement of country from the front of council meetings for the second time this year in June. Following Mr Higgins comments, Aboriginal community leaders attended the July council meeting to support the ceremony during public statement time with their speeches met with rounds of applause from the gallery. Councillors also reiterated their support with mayor Peter Carter saying it was an “honour” to deliver the acknowledgement of country as part of his role as mayor. Mr Ashenden also was the principal petitioner on an anti-COVID vaccination mandate petition brought to the council in 2022.