'I didn't kill Aborigines': Hobart mayor warns on planned memorial

The Lord Mayor of Hobart has warned plans for an Aboriginal memorial in the city risk becoming “guilt ridden” and “tokenistic” while adding “she didn’t kill Aborigines”.

Alderman Sue Hickey was commenting on proposals to turn the industrial area at Macquarie Point in Hobart into a cultural site for Tasmania’s Aboriginal community.

Part of the $2 billion blueprint includes a “Truth and Reconciliation Art Park” that would aim to heal the wounds of Tasmania’s bloody colonial conflict with its indigenous people.

Alderman Hickey said while she welcomed the proposals for the area, she did not want it turned into a “guilt ridden” place.

"I would like to see [the proposal] really thoroughly consulted with the community and with the Aboriginal community, because I wouldn't like it to be tokenistic," she said.

Alderman Hickey added the conflict between the island state’s white settlers and the indigenous population was regrettable, but today’s Tasmanians should not be blamed.

"Whatever happened 200 years ago is really, really sad, but lots of atrocities have happened. People came away here in ships, torn away from their families for stealing a turnip."

"I didn't kill the Aborigines, and nor would I; it was a different era," she said.

Her comments drew condemnation from Tasmanian Aboriginal leaders.

One of them, Michael Mansell, said today’s society shared a “moral responsibility” to remedy injustices.

"It is not enough to say, 'I did not do it'. Do we absolve ourselves of responsibility to feed the starving children of the world, even though their plight is not of our doing?" he said.

ue Hickey was commenting on proposals to turn the industrial area at Macquarie Point in Hobart into a cultural site for Tasmania’s Aboriginal community.

Part of the $2 billion blueprint includes a “Truth and Reconciliation Art Park” that would aim to heal the wounds of Tasmania’s bloody colonial conflict with its indigenous people.

Alderman Hickey said while she welcomed the proposals for the area, she did not want it turned into a “guilt ridden” place.

"I would like to see [the proposal] really thoroughly consulted with the community and with the Aboriginal community, because I wouldn't like it to be tokenistic," she said.

Alderman Hickey added the conflict between the island state’s white settlers and the indigenous population was regrettable, but today’s Tasmanians should not be blamed.

"Whatever happened 200 years ago is really, really sad, but lots of atrocities have happened. People came away here in ships, torn away from their families for stealing a turnip."

"I didn't kill the Aborigines, and nor would I; it was a different era," she said.

Her comments drew condemnation from Tasmanian Aboriginal leaders.

One of them, Michael Mansell, said today’s society shared a “moral responsibility” to remedy injustices.

"It is not enough to say, 'I did not do it'. Do we absolve ourselves of responsibility to feed the starving children of the world, even though their plight is not of our doing?" he said.