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CITIZENSHIP MOTION AT
NSW LGA CONFERENCE
The following motion was
adopted unopposed, at the NSW Local Government Association
Conference on 12 November 2003 at Albury NSW.
"That the following motion adopted at the 15th Annual
NSW Local Government Aboriginal Network Conference 2002 be
endorsed by the NSW Local Government Association
Conference 2003: That the Australian Local Government
Association calls on the Australian Federal Government to
incorporate the words, 'I recognise the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Owners
of the land on which I stand', into the affirmation and
oath of the Australian Citizenship Pledge, after the words
'from this time forward' in the affirmation and after the
words 'from this time forward under God' in the oath".
The motion will now go to the Australian Local Government
Association National Assembly in Canberra later this
month. I shall be attending the National Assembly and hope
to speak to the motion.
The Australian Local Government Association were
influential in getting changes to the Citizenship
Ceremonies Code, to encourage Local Government councils to
'Incorporate Indigenous Elements' into citizenship
ceremonies. (Launched in August this year by the Minister
for Citizenship and Multiculturalism, the Hon Gary
Hargrave MP)
The new Citizenship Code says, in part;
"Incorporating Indigenous elements into citizenship
ceremonies enhances awareness and understanding by new
citizens, as well as the wider community, of indigenous
culture and heritage and the status of Indigenous people
as the first Australians. This can make a valuable
contribution to furthering the process of reconciliation
and social harmony in Australia".
Hopefully the motion will be seen by the Minister as a
natural progression from that in the new Citizenship Code.
Cr Ian de Vulder, Deputy Mayor, Ku-ring-gai Council
For more details, please
contact:
Kerrie McKenzie
P.O. Box 41
Berowra NSW 2081
Phone / Fax: 02 9428
1197
E-mail:
kerriemckenzie@bigpond.com
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