The Australian Government has faced fierce backlash after introducing an “Acknowledgement of Autistic People” directly following the “Acknowledgement of Country” in an official document.
The inclusion, part of the recently launched National Autism Strategy, has sparked debate, with critics labelling it “woke virtue signalling” and questioning its necessity.
The strategy, unveiled by Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth, aims to create a more inclusive society for autistic people, supported by a $42 million investment. However, it was the unexpected “Acknowledgement of Autistic People and their families and carers” in the document’s introduction that drew significant public attention.
Social media erupted with responses, many critical of the move. Autistic individuals and allies expressed discomfort, arguing the acknowledgement was unnecessary and risked singling out autistic people as a point of difference.
One social media user criticised the format, writing, “It’s inappropriate to make this a follow-up to the Acknowledgement of Country and present it in the same way.” Another simply stated, “Just no.”
Comedian and writer John Delmenico, who is autistic, called the inclusion “inappropriate and unnecessary.” He said on social media, “It feels tokenistic and doesn’t meaningfully address the challenges autistic people face.”
Cumberland City Councillor Steve Christou was among the harshest critics, telling The Daily Mail: “Where does this woke virtue signalling stop? These reports are taxpayer-funded, and it’s time we return to common sense.”
Despite the criticism, others defended the government’s intention. Conservative commentator Prue MacSween said, “While I think we overdo acknowledgements generally, in this case, it’s recognising the value of autistic people and their inclusion in our society. It’s not necessarily virtue signalling.”
Supporters of the acknowledgement argued it was a symbolic gesture to affirm the importance of autistic people in national discourse. One government spokesperson told The Daily Mail, “The strategy was developed with extensive consultation involving the autistic community. To undermine its contents is to undermine the voices of those it seeks to support.”
The National Autism Strategy outlines 22 commitments to improve inclusion, health, and economic opportunities for autistic individuals. It includes funding for peer support programs, research into autism prevalence, and initiatives to help employers create inclusive workplaces.
Sebastian Langdon-Macmillan, an autistic advocate who contributed to the strategy, welcomed its broader goals. “This is about creating a future where society views autistic people as an asset,” he said.
However, the controversial acknowledgement has overshadowed the broader aims of the initiative, with the government facing ongoing questions about whether the gesture was an appropriate addition or a misstep.
As debate continues, the government will need to balance symbolic inclusivity with meaningful action, ensuring future policies resonate with those they aim to support without creating unnecessary division.
What a joke !
My wife and I have been the carers for our son with Autism for 52 years.
Government letters and emails have nonsense signature blocks and acknowledgements longer than the text of the messages.
Spend more time out of your office actually with families doing something useful.
Where is the inclusion for people with hearing loss, brain injury etc etc etc.
And all the other groups that are NOT included. I am absolutly outraged as the parent of a person who has a different disability that no one seems to care about. All disability needs assistance, care, support and acknowledgement. To single this group out makes me more angry than I can recall ever, after years of love and care for a differently disabled person Where you when they needed help???. You do this Albo and you will loose more than my vote….and I worked and voted Labor for endless years. You and you Cabinet have lost sight of what is critical….aged cared ditto. What a sad end for everyone involved. If you must ….acknowledge ___all____ people with a disability equally but never ever ever any single one.
I normally vote for Amanda but rethinking it now.
Seriously, there was never an upside to this nonsense. If you are going to spell out disabilities, then why not all the others? Why is my wife that has epilepsy not recognised?
Adding a constantly repetitive “acknowledgement” to a serious issue or condition doesn’t help anyone. It becomes rote very quickly. Something to say automatically before you get on with the topic at hand. Even if it makes some feel better initially, the fact that it’s a rote lip-service will become an annoyance at some point for the vast majority, even if they don’t want to admit it publicly.
It singles out those people as not-normal and from the disadvantaged I’ve met, almost all want to just be viewed as normal and feel bad if they are not considered that way. And, MANY others that also are disadvantaged in some way, where is their recognition?
I didn’t believe it at first, I thought maybe it was just a once off acknowledgement while passing a bill to help autistic people more. I don’t know why a constant acknowledgement is required except maybe if it’s used to not offer more real support latter. “Why do more? We already acknowledge you every day!”.
Many things condemned as “woke” are often just basic morals and that’s not what this is. This is just STUPID because it’s exclusionary, pointless, and will offend more people than will make happy.