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During a Liberal state conference, which was recorded, some attendees can be heard booing an Acknowledgement of Country.
The New South Wales Liberal Party event was hosted at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney on Saturday.
NSW Liberal state executive member Michelle Bishop delivered the Acknowledgement of Country to a crowd of approximately 600 people.
“I just wanted to acknowledge that we are on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation,” she said.
Some members of the crowd began booing, but Ms Bishop continued with the address.
‘So disappointing’
Gadigal woman Kate Constantine told NITV the booing was “disappointing”.
“It is most disappointing at this level of government as it really just constitutes poor behaviour.”
“Unfortunately, in the wake of the unsuccessful referendum, this behaviour has increased,” she said.
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Ms Constantine said the incident constituted an absence of basic courtesy.
“I teach primary school-aged kids … that Acknowledging Country is like saying ‘Thanks for having me’ to your mate’s mum when she’s hosted you for a play date after school,” she said.
“It’s just good manners.”
Gadigal Elder Uncle Allen Madden also shared his discontent at the booing.
“Well, you can’t put brains in statues,” he said.
‘Handful of attendees’ condemned
A spokesperson from NSW Liberals said that a “handful of attendees behaved inappropriately” at the event.
They said it hasn’t been possible to establish the identity of said attendees.
“Attendees are expected to conduct themselves with appropriate decorum and respect. The vast majority did so.”
In a statement to NITV, Ms Bishop said the booing came from a “small number of people, 10 at most”.
She said they were sitting directly in front of the stage.
“The poor behaviour was repeatedly called out over the weekend both directly to those who did it and directly in support of me,” she said.
“What was captured in that 17-second clip does not reflect the membership or the party, and our leadership is committed to reconciliation, striving for better outcomes for all First Nations people based on closing the gap targets.”
NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, David Harris said that Acknowledging Country is a way of “showing respect” and part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
When questioned about his response to the audience’s actions, Mr Harris said that the actions of “specific organisations are matters for those organisations”.
