The Australian government has been slammed for sticking an ‘Acknowledgement of Autistic people’ straight after an ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ in an official document.
Federal social services minister Amanda Rishworth launched Australia’s first-ever ‘National Autism Strategy’ on Tuesday, which is aimed at improving the lives of those with autism.
The seven-year plan, for which the government has pledged more than $42million in funding, seeks to create a ‘safe and inclusive society where all Autistic people are supported and empowered to thrive in all aspects of life’.
But eagle-eyed readers of the 76-page document were left scratching their heads by an an unusual ‘acknowledgment’ inserted straight after the now familiar ‘Acknowledgement to Country’.
‘Acknowledgement of Autistic people and their families and carers and the autism community,’ it states in the same font, followed by two sentences paying tribute to Australia’s autism community.
Cumberland City councillor and former mayor Steve Christou blasted the acknowledgment as ‘over the top virtue signalling’.
‘Where does this woke virtue signaling stop? I think it’s quite rude and insulting to autistic people,’ Cr Christou told Daily Mail Australia.
‘These reports are are funded by taxpayers and it just needs to stop. We need to come back to common sense.’
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth (pictured) launched Australia’s first-ever ‘National Autism Strategy’ on Tuesday which is aimed at improving the lives of those with autism
Eagle-eyed readers of the 76-page document were left scratching their heads by an unfamiliar ‘acknowledgment’ inserted straight after the usual ‘Acknowledgement to Country’ (pictured)
John Delmenico, an autistic comedian and writer, said the ‘acknowledgment’ was ‘inappropriate and unnecessary’.
‘It’s super inappropriate imo (in my opinion) to make it a follow up to an Acknowledgement of Country and format it the exact same way,’ he wrote on social media.
Another social media user slammed the new move, writing: ‘Just no.’
‘There is not a planet where this is a good idea and an acknowledgement of country is the absolute bare minimum we owe without it being treated like this,’ they added.
However, conservative commentator Prue MacSween took a more nuanced view.
‘I do believe we are overdoing the acknowledgement to country now and it infuriates many of us (including me) to be welcomed to our own country,’ she said.
‘This is catering to the Indigenous industry and I find it offensive and tokenistic. A focus on actually doing something meaningful to close the gap is what I am interested in.
‘But as this strategy you are basing the story on is focusing on Autism, I do not think this is a case of virtue signalling, merely an acknowledgement that those with autism are being valued and an important consideration and identified.’
Others poked fun at the acknowledgement.
An Acknowledgment to Country is not the same as a Welcome to Country. The latter can only be delivered by Traditional Owners or Custodians of the land on which the event takes place, whereas an acknowledgment can be performed by anyone (pictured: a Welcome to Country)
‘Inappropriate not to acknowledge the autistic land on which we stand,’ quipped comedian Rose Callaghan.
Another said: ‘I hope that the Autism acknowledgement is read before every government event or speech.’
An Acknowledgment to Country is not the same as a Welcome to Country.
The latter can only be delivered by Traditional Owners or Custodians of the land on which the event takes place, whereas an acknowledgment can be performed by anyone.
Many civil servants and employees of big corporates have acknowledgements in their email signatures.
Supporters claim it is a way to show respect to the Traditional Custodians of the land on which you live and work.
However, critics argue to it is tokenistic and does nothing to actually improve the lives of Indigenous people.
‘These reports are are funded by taxpayers and it just needs to stop,’ Cumberland councillor Steve Christou told Daily Mail Australia
The National Autism Strategy strategy outlines 22 commitments, and the plan earmarks $42.3 million for a number of measures, including almost $3 million for identifying the prevalence of autism in Australia.
It seeks to improve a range of areas concerning autistic people, including social and economic inclusion, diagnosis and services, and health.
Another $20million across four years will go to a peer support program to provide lived-experience advice for autistic people, under an initial two-year action plan to roll out practical measures.
Employers also have a role to play and should create inclusive workplaces understanding the diversity and needs of autistic workers, the strategy says.
Bosses should be supported in hiring and retaining autistic employees under commitments in the blueprint to improve economic inclusion.
Sebastian Langdon-Macmillan, a young autistic person who helped develop the strategy, said he was very optimistic the plan would help a generation of youth moving into study and the workplace.
‘Too often, there are these negative stereotypes which really harm autistic people,’ he said.
‘What it means for me is a future in which our society can really accept autistic people and really view autistic people as an asset.’
Mr Langdon-Macmillan said he had already seen a positive shift in how government departments work with, and include autistic people.
Daily Mail Australia approached the Department for Social Services for comment.
