Libertarian councillor Steve Christou has led the charge against a proposal to investigate renaming Cumberland Council’s wards with Indigenous titles, branding the motion “stupid and moronic” and arguing it would do nothing to improve outcomes for First Nations people.
The motion, put forward by councillor Ahmed Ouf and seconded by Greens councillor Sujan Selventhiran, called on council staff to explore potential new ward names as a gesture of inclusion.
Ouf argued the move would symbolise respect for Indigenous resilience, despite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people making up just 0.6 per cent of Cumberland’s population.
Christou rejected the idea outright, telling the meeting that renaming wards was meaningless and disconnected from community priorities.
He noted that Cumberland recorded one of the highest “No” votes in the Voice referendum and stressed that the area was culturally diverse, with 69 per cent of residents speaking English as a second language.
“I don’t believe renaming our wards is going to do anything whatsoever,” he said, adding that many residents could not even identify the current ward boundaries.
The debate escalated into heated exchanges, with Labor councillor Enver Yasar backing the motion as a stand against what he described as “far right” rhetoric, while also questioning Christou over signage seen in a recent Australia Day video – claims Christou dismissed as irrelevant.
Deputy Mayor Nadima Kafrouni-Saba sided with Christou, labelling the proposal “weak and superficial” and arguing it would not deliver tangible benefits. Further criticism was levelled at Ouf for failing to consult the council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee.
Liberal councillor Joseph Rahme echoed Christou’s stance, urging council to focus on “roads, rates and rubbish,” while councillor Diane Colman questioned the motives behind the proposal.
In the end, only Mayor Ola Hamed and two Labor councillors supported the motion, which was comfortably defeated.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
