We often recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with an Acknowledgment of Country, with many people adding in ‘always was, always will be, Aboriginal land’. Last week Byron Shire Councillors supported a motion that will take another practical step to live up to this statement. To support the First Nations people, the traditional owners, of Byron Shire to live on their own country by supporting local Indigenous-owned housing for Indigenous people.
The motion included a number of actions that will embed this principle into Council’s housing strategies and its daily work.
During the debate, I made some comments about the lack of formal consultation, engagement or joint decision-making processes that councillors have with local Indigenous organisations. This is on councillors, not Council staff, who have been working very closely in partnership with local Indigenous organisations. The Echo’s report of my comments was simply wrong and gives the wrong impression of what Council, as an organisation, has achieved.
In another error, it is worth pointing out that the motion was not heavily amended as implied by The Echo and passed as a strong direction from councillors that we must deliver on our commitments to supporting native title holders to live on country.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
