Australian Greens: Labor must reverse Maroondah decision if it is serious about Treaty

The Victorian Greens have urged the Victorian Labor Government to listen to the tens of thousands of Victorians that have signed a petition calling for Maroondah Hospital to retain its current Woi-wurrung name.

Last month the Government announced it would rename Maroondah Hospital after Queen Elizabeth II.

Maroondah is a First Nations word from the language of the Woi-wurrung people which means ‘throwing leaves’.

In response to the announcement, more than 50,000 Victorians have signed a Change.org petition calling on the Government to reverse the disrespectful decision.

The Greens say changing the name of a hospital from a First Nations word to the name of a foreign monarch representing colonisation is not what Treaty looks like.

Leader of the Victorian Greens Samantha Ratnam said as Victoria embarked on its historic Treaty process, Labor needed to listen to First Nations communities and act now.

Quotes attributable to Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam MLC: 

“Labor needs to reverse this decision.

“As we embark on the Treaty process, First Nations language and history must be recognised and celebrated, not erased.

“The Greens stand with First Nations communities and the tens of thousands of Victorians calling on the Government to rethink its disrespectful decision.”