Australian opposition leader calls government's regular recognition of Aborigines 'tokenism'

ADELAIDE, Australia - A government routine of acknowledging Australia's indigenous people was criticized as mere political correctness Monday by the federal opposition leader, offending some Aborigines and sparking a political debate.

Since the government of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd came to power in late 2007, nearly every official government function has begun with the speaker acknowledging the traditional owners of the land where the meeting is held.

Tony Abbott, leader of the Liberal party, said the practice has been used so often that it has become an empty gesture.

"I guess this is the kind of genuflection to political correctness that these guys feel they have to make," he told Adelaide's The Advertiser newspaper, speaking of Rudd's Labor party. "Sometimes it's appropriate to do those things but certainly I think in many contexts it seems like out-of-place tokenism."

As an example, he said there was no need for Rudd to reference the traditional owners at a parliamentary dinner last week for the Australian Medical Association.

Some Aborigines said they were offended.

"What's Tony Abbott trying to achieve, some cheap political shot?" Eddie Mulholland, who heads an Aboriginal health group in the Northern Territory, told News Limited newspapers. "It's an acknowledgment that we do exist with humans. It is not that long ago we were classified as part of the flora and fauna."

While the acknowledgment has been a part of Australian politics for years, it was under Rudd's government that its use has become routine. Some states even suggest it be used as a sign of respect at public functions that are not government-related.

Speakers usually quote some variation of the phrase: "I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet."

Aboriginal leader Warren Mundine told Sky News Australia that the recognition was a sign of respect but said it could get repetitive.

"The next speaker does the same and then the next speaker does the same, and it almost puts you to sleep listening to all that stuff," Mundine said.

Politicians were split in their reaction to Abbott's comments.

"They are the traditional owners of this land and I think it's totally disrespectful to make comments like that," Labor parliament member George Georganas said.

But Liberal politician Eric Abetz said he did not generally acknowledge the traditional owners of the land when making speeches.

"I find it personally to be quite paternalistic," he said.