Calls for 'racist' place names including 'Blackboy Park' to be changed as they are 'politically incorrect'
- WA Councillors will consider changing the name of Blackboy Park in Perth
- The park has been labelled as 'politically incorrect and potentially offensive'
- Move comes after Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt wrote to WA councils
Calls have been made for 'racist' places throughout Australia to be renamed after being slammed as 'politically incorrect'.
Councillors from the City of Joondalup will consider changing the name of Blackboy Park in Mullaloo, north-east of Perth.
The green space has been labelled as 'politically incorrect and potentially offensive' when brought up in a council meeting.
'This is 2019 and the term blackboy is definitely not correct,' Councillor Russ Fishwick said.
Councillors from the City of Joondalup will consider changing the name of Blackboy Park (pictured) in Mullaloo, north-east of Perth
The move comes after Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt wrote to Western Australian councils urging them to change 'racist' names.
'I encourage all local governments to perhaps have a look at some of the names of some of their locations and engage with their local Aboriginal people in finding better names that I think everyone can celebrate,' Mr Wyatt told The West Australian.
Share this article
'Blackboy' is a slang name for a grass tree – a Xanthorrhoea plant species which resembles an Aboriginal person holding a spear.
The park has five grass trees with three nearby the sign.
The council would need 'overwhelming community support' before considering a name change, according to a report for next week's meeting.
Councillor Phillipa Taylor said she was 'embarrassed' the name of the park had not been changed before.
'Blackboy' is a slang name for a grass tree – a Xanthorrhoea plant species which resembles an Aboriginal person holding a spear
The Shire of Mundaring council is also reconsidering the name of their Blackboy Hill Commemorative Site – a place where WA soldiers trained for WWI.
Other WA places with the name 'Blackboy' include the Blackboy Hollow Cave in the Margaret River Region and Blackboy Hill in Williams and Mettler.
Councillor Phillipa Taylor said she was 'embarrassed' the name of the park had not been changed before
