Lia Finocchiaro has defended her decision not to acknowledge the Larrakia people in her Bombing of Darwin anniversary speech. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)
In short:
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has doubled down on her decision not to acknowledge the Larrakia people in a speech commemorating the bombing of Darwin, calling Aboriginal country acknowledgements "divisive".
Her omission at the ceremony has offended a prominent elder and drawn criticism from Territory Labor and independent politicians.
What's next?
The NT government has not ruled out redirecting funding for Welcome to Country ceremonies, following a similar federal proposal by CLP senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
The Northern Territory chief minister has branded Aboriginal acknowledgements of country as "divisive" and "tokenistic", in defending her decision to omit Darwin's traditional owners from a war anniversary speech.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has been criticised for not acknowledging Darwin's Larrakia people at a ceremony last week to mark the 83rd anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin in World War II.
Out of eight speakers, including Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Ms Finocchiaro was the only person who did not pay tribute to the Larrakia landowners.
On Tuesday, Ms Finocchiaro said she "just [doesn't] think every speaker needs to do it".
"The feedback I get from the community on acknowledgements of country is that Territorians … feel like it's been rammed down their throats," she told ABC Radio Darwin.
The ceremony marked 83 years since the Bombing of Darwin, the largest single foreign attack on Australian soil. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)
"This is how people talk to me about it.
"In my acknowledgement, I acknowledged the veterans, I acknowledged all Territorians, I acknowledged serving men and women in our defence force.
"I'm about unifying Territorians … and something as divisive as acknowledgement of country is not something I'm subscribing to.
"We’ve just been indoctrinated by an [NT] Labor government over eight years who have shamed people into feeling like they have to do something that lacks a genuine nature and is tokenistic."
A Welcome to Country was also given at the event by Larrakia man James Parfitt.
Ms Finocchiaro's omission has since been criticised by Larrakia traditional owner Richard Fejo, who was present at the time, as well as Territory Labor and independent politicians.
Mr Fejo described the moment as "embarrassing".
Richard Fejo says Lia Finocchiaro's lack of acknowledgement was "embarrassing". (ABC News: Hamish Harty)
"What really upset me is my grandfather … and his brother fought at the Bombing of Darwin," Mr Fejo told ABC Radio Darwin on Tuesday.
"They were down there at the wharf, pulling men out of the waters that were injured, and then they had to clean up the deceased.
"And I know there's more than two Larrakia men out there that served at that time, and their families have spoken to me, and they're upset.
"Because when the chief minister fails to acknowledge Larrakia people at the Bombing of Darwin, she's directly talking about my grandfather … and the other Larrakia men that fought side-by-side with non-Aboriginal people … we fought as one."
Lia Finocchiaro was the only speaker at the event who did not pay tribute to traditional owners. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)
Deputy Opposition Leader Dheran Young accused Ms Finocchiaro of "playing political games".
"An acknowledgement doesn't harm anyone; it's a basic act of respect for the first custodians of our country," Mr Young said in a statement.
"Surely there is still space for respect in our community.
"Lia Finocchiaro needs to show leadership, not divide the community."
Welcome to Country funding in spotlight
Ms Finocchiaro's commentary on acknowledgements of country follows a proposal by the federal Coalition to review Welcome to Country funding if they win the federal election.
Jacinta Price on new government efficiency role
Photo shows Woman stands in park with microphone in front of chest
Earlier this year, federal Shadow Minister for Government Efficiency Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said she would look into redirecting some of the funding spent on the welcoming ceremonies, if her party was elected.
"I don't believe that we should be spending $450,000 a [government] term on Welcome to Country, when that isn't actually improving the life of a marginalised Indigenous Australian," she said at the time.
When asked if the NT government would follow suit and examine funding spent on Welcome to Country ceremonies, neither Ms Finocchiaro or her deputy Gerard Maley ruled it out, though Ms Finocchiaro said they "absolutely have their place".
"Ultimately, there are lots of issues of underfunding right across the Northern Territory," Mr Maley said on Tuesday.
"What I think more needs to be funded is the health system, the education system and the police and corrections system … we don't have an unlimited bucket of money."
The territory government has been contacted for comment about how much NT funding is being spent on Welcome to Country ceremonies.