BOROBI’S GOOD NAME DEFENDED

An identity crisis is over for the popular Commonwealth Games koala mascot as a legal challenge questioning his right to be called Borobi fails.

THE Gold Coast Commonwealth Games have won the right to use the traditional indigenous name Borobi for its official koala mascot after fighting off claims the use of the word was disrespectful to Aboriginals.

Wesley Aird, a member of the Yugambeh clan and former indigenous adviser to the Howard government, launched a legal battle in April against Games organisers.

Mr Aird filed his challenge on the grounds the use of the word “Borobi” and its trademark were in breach of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act because it offended Yugambeh clan members.

But several Yugambeh elders rejected Mr Aird’s claims, including the clan’s most senior elder, Patricia O’Connor, who supported the traditional naming of the mascot.

“I am not offended, shocked, disgraced, outraged or scandalised about the GOLDOC’s use of the Aboriginal word ‘Borobi’,” Ms O’Connor said.

An estimated 170 Aboriginal names are Australian trademarks and do not require indigenous consent before registration and Mr Aird’s legal challenge was seen as a test case for their legal standing.

Games organisers established two indigenous advisory committees to help plan and oversee the running of the two-week event, both of which had previously consented to the use of the traditional word. But Mr Aird said there was no traditional decision-making process and the advisory committee’s consent had no authority.

Borobi the blue koala was named after a public competition to design the mascot for the 2018 Games.