Strathfield Council in Australia plans to cover Indigenous inscriptions
Strathfield Municipal Council in Sydney, Australia, has resolved to cover inscriptions about Indigenous people on six entry signs if they cannot be removed immediately. The inscriptions contain the English phrase “Always was, always will be Wangal Country”. As ABC News Australia reports, the decision has raised concerns among some members of the community.
Signs and alternative options
The six sandstone signs at prominent intersections were installed over two financial years. The total cost of the project was $400,000 and included installation, landscaping and lighting expenses.
In August, the council commissioned a report on alternative sign options. Designs and indicative cost estimates are to be presented in the first quarter of 2027. If new signs are approved, their funding and installation are planned for the 2027–2028 financial year.
Some covers on the signs were removed by other people. A council spokesperson said staff are replacing them in accordance with the decision adopted by the council.
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Council positions and petition
The initiator of the decision, Councillor John-Paul Baladi, described the signs as insufficiently high-quality and said they contained “political language”. In a social media post, he stated that “many residents” had complained about the “too expensive and divisive” signs.
Councillor Sandy Reddy said at the August meeting that the signs were too small and did not have an appropriate impact. Mayor Benjamin Cai noted that the installation work had only just been completed and that the council should spend funds carefully and wait for community feedback. None of the council members present voted against the decision.
Councillor Rory Nosworthy, who was not present at the meeting, launched an online petition against the council’s decision. It has collected more than 300 signatures. A council spokesperson said no complaints had been received about the original signs and that the council was also unaware of consultations with the Indigenous community regarding the decision to cover the inscriptions.
