Junee councillors rejected a proposal on Tuesday to acknowledge Aboriginal owners at the start of council meetings and formal public functions.

Instead councillors chose to leave it in the hands of a council committee or function chairperson with consideration to its appropriateness.

Councillor Cummins stated she believed all people were equal but cited demographics indicating only two per cent of Junee shire’s population identified as Aboriginal.

“It would be entirely different there were significant numbers of people proud of their Aboriginal heritage,” she said.

Cr Andrew Clinton said he wanted to avoid a token gesture when there was often only one other person attending council meetings who was not part of council.

“My fear is we’re acknowledging what could be perceived as a minority,” Cr Clinton said.

Cr Clinton described the welcome to country ceremony very powerful but an acknowledgement to country could run the risk of becoming “tokenistic”.

Cr Bob Callow said he “dead against” council mandating an acknowledgement of country at meetings or events.

Cr Callow said it could discourage many of the other minorities who have been in Australia such as English, Italians, Greeks, Irish who had lived in the shire.

Despite rejecting a mandated acknowledgement of country at each meeting or formal occasion, councillors voted unanimously in favour of installing signs at the shire’s entrances.

As signs are updated and replaced at six entrances to the shire are replaced – they will be updated with a sign recognising Wiradjuri country.