A council in Sydney’s west has been accused of trying to implement an Indigenous treaty ‘in secret’.
Cumberland City Council, which covers the suburbs of Lidcombe and Girraween, is planning to enter into a partnership agreement with three local Indigenous businesses.
This is despite the fact that more than two-thirds of residents voted against the Voice to Parliament referendum last October.
2GB presenter Ben Fordham said the move amounted to a “collusive pact”.
“There are currently plans to sign a treaty between three Indigenous Land Councils within Cumberland Local Government,” he said on Monday.
‘It would recognise that three pieces of land on which Cumberland stands were never ceded. It would require consultation with the three land councils before any future developments are undertaken.
‘There have also been proposals to give the signs two indigenous names, but there has been little consultation with the community.’
Outspoken Cumberland councillor Steve Christou called the move “absolutely outrageous” and accused the council of trying to push through the move “in the dead of night” in April.
A council in western Sydney has been accused of trying to implement an Indigenous ‘treaty in secret’ (pictured at a Welcome to Country ceremony to be held in Melbourne in 2022)
Mr Christou said he and two colleagues had objected, but the proposal had now been brought back to the council.
“It was proposed that we now go to three local land councils: Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council, Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council and Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council,” Mr Christou said.
“All the conditions that were set were absolutely horrible.”
Mr Christou said the proposal would create a lot of “bureaucracy” as it would force the council to consult indigenous groups in all kinds of decision-making processes, including planning applications and street naming.
He added: ‘Cumberland voted No by 64 percent. Our residents don’t want treaties or agreements, they just want to live side by side, hand in hand, with their native brothers and sisters.’
Cumberland City Council, which covers the suburbs from Lidcombe to Girraween, plans to sign a partnership agreement with three local Indigenous businesses (pictured: Western Sydney)
“That is very, very worrying because it will hold back any development or progress in Cumberland,” Mr Christou said.
‘Imagine the bureaucracy involved if you had to consult with each and every land purchase or negotiation or deal that the council wanted to carry out.
“It’s just not okay.”
He added: ‘Cumberland voted No by 64 percent. Our residents don’t want treaties or agreements, they just want to live side by side, hand in hand, with their native brothers and sisters.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Cumberland City Council for comment.
