Councillor Fights to Scrap Indigenous Ceremonies Before Council Meetings

One Indigenous organisation says council should be focused on ‘bigger issues’ rather than race-based politics.

Indigenous performers perform the Welcome to Country during a smoke ceremony prior to the state funeral service for Uncle Jack Charles at Hamer Hall in Melbourne, Australia on Oct. 18, 2022. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Cumberland City councillor and former mayor, Steve Christou, has pledged to put a stop to Aboriginal “Welcome to Country“ Indigenous ceremonies if his party gains a majority in September’s council elections.

His stance has been met with criticism, however, from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, who say he has “politicised the issue in the hope of winning votes.”