NAME AND SHAME

REVEALED Authorities push to rid state of ‘offensive’ places

A WHOLESALE axing and replacing of Tasmanian place names deemed offensive by the Aboriginal community has been flagged by a State Government options paper.

The Review of the Aboriginal and Dual Naming Policy has flagged a “special mechanism ... to consider and replace all place names offensive to the Aboriginal community”.

And the Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation has seized on the possibility, saying streets and sites carrying the names of oppressive colonial rulers should be scrapped.

The Government options paper says: “Other jurisdictions in Australia are collaborating with Aboriginal communities to replace offensive and derogatory place names. There is potential in Tasmania for proposals to replace additional offensive place names to be addressed and considered by the (Nomenclature) Board.’’

A government spokeswoman said it was too early to preempt the review’s outcome.

A WHOLESALE axing and replacing of Tasmanian place names deemed offensive by the Aboriginal community has been flagged by a State Government options paper.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation has seized on the possibility, saying streets and sites carrying the names of oppressive colonial rulers should be scrapped.

The Review of the Aboriginal and Dual Naming Policy, released this week, has flagged a “special mechanism ... to consider and replace all place names offensive to the Aboriginal community’’.

“Other jurisdictions in Australia are currently collaborating with Aboriginal communities to replace offensive and derogatory place names,’’ the paper notes.

“There is potential in Tasmania for proposals to replace additional offensive place names to be addressed and considered by the [Nomenclature] Board.’’

The board is currently considering proposals by the TAC for Aboriginal and dual names in the revived palawa kani language involving 11 places in Tasmania.

This included replacing the offensive Suicide Rock and Victory Hill, being places with bloody historical pasts, and Niggerhead Rock.

Other proposals involved various geographic landmarks at Cape Grim and waterfalls without official names in Launceston and Hobart.

However, these assessments have stalled largely because of disagreements over naming and lack of consultation involving some within the Aboriginal community.

TAC spokesman Michael Mansell said he did not support the review, which he claimed was being done for “political reasons’’, adding existing Aboriginal names “are a matter of fact’’.

Nevertheless, Mr Mansell said the review should now provide an opportunity to extend the scrapping of place names to include those involving some early colonial figures.

“It’s not so much offensive but clearly inappropriate to have some of those names,’’ Mr Mansell said.

He cited, for example, the Batman Bridge and Paterson Street in Launceston.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the review could allow non-Aborigines to propose traditional place names.

“It is breathtakingly disrespectful for Will Hodgman to undermine the dual-naming policy through this review process,” she said.

“After claiming he wanted to reset the relationship with the Aboriginal community, Will Hodgman proceeded with plans to destroy or damage Aboriginal heritage in the Arthur-Pieman region of the takayna/Tarkine.

“Attempting to water down the referrals for dual naming is rubbing salt in the still unhealed wounds of Tasmania’s first people.”