Labor members of state parliament are at odds over a plan backed by Murray-Wellington MP Robyn Clarke to change the name of the Peel region because of its links to the 1834 Pinjarra Massacre.
Ms Clarke advocated renaming the area the Bindjareb region after a call from local traditional owner Karrie-Anne Kearing to drop the reference to Thomas Peel, who organised and took part in the massacre.
While Premier Mark McGowan said on Wednesday he supported retaining the Peel name, regional development minister Alannah MacTiernan has left the door open to a change.
“I have sympathy for the Bindjareb people’s case,” Ms MacTiernan said.
“The Pinjarra massacre was one of the most brutal episodes in our state’s history.
“This would need to be a broader conversation with communities across the region, but it’s a conversation worth having.”
But Mr McGowan told a press conference in Broome he was “not into changing the names of the regions around Western Australia” despite “local sensitivities”, delivering a set-back for the rename the region campaign.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen, in fact it won’t happen, but I appreciate there is a lot of local sensitivities in various areas and people – particularly Aboriginal people – have concerns, but changing the names of regions isn’t something we’re going to do,” he said.
Mandurah MP David Templeman said it would be too hard to make the change, which would require an act of parliament.
“It is not practical or feasible to rename the region,” Mr Templeman said.
“However that does not mean that we do not need to acknowledge our rich and diverse Aboriginal and cultural history, which is integral to the story of Western Australia.
“My priority remains the creation of jobs and opportunities for the people in the region.”
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
