Port Macquarie Hastings Mayor Peta Pinson will withdraw Item 10.03 Notice of Motion (NOM) - Formalisation of "Acknowledgement of Country" at Council Meetings, Council Events and in Formal Speeches at Thursday's Ordinary Council meeting.
"On Monday afternoon I advised CEO Dr Clare Allen of my decision to formally withdraw Item 10.03 from the 18 July Ordinary Council Meeting agenda," Mayor Pinson said.
"For the past two years I have been very publicly delivering what I thought was an inclusive message to our community by acknowledging our First Nations people, and in addition, our migrants who helped build the great multinational country we are today and our service men and women who have protected our freedoms and our way of life.
"I have done this at every monthly Ordinary Council Meeting, Australian Citizenship ceremonies, speaking engagements, Australia Day Ceremonies and events without any complaints from any community member, Councillor or Council staff.
"Off the back of the extremely disappointing and in some cases vitriolic feedback I have received on this item, I have decided to withdraw the motion from the upcoming Council meeting this week.
"I do this as it was never my intention to hurt or offend anyone in our community, with a suggested enhancement of Council's Acknowledgement of Country."
