Cory Bernardi, the lead One Nation candidate in the upcoming South Australian election, has faced criticism from Kaurna elders for mocking the traditional Kaurna language in two Facebook videos. The videos, which have garnered over 50,000 likes, show Bernardi questioning the use of Aboriginal language on signs at Adelaide University and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
In the first video, Bernardi stands outside Adelaide University and describes a banner reading “Niina Marni” — a Kaurna greeting meaning “are you good?” or “hello, how are you?” — as “empty symbolism.” He says, “Why are we putting names or banners or flags on our university campuses that don’t mean anything to anyone?” Kaurna elder Lynette Crocker responded that the wording is a “respectful greeting” and compared it to expecting visitors to know some Italian when in Italy.
In the second video, Bernardi mispronounces the phrase “Ngangkiku Ngartuku Kukuwardli” on a hospital sign, which translates to “a place of health that cares for women during pregnancy and birthing, babies, children, and young people.” He asks, “Why are we doing this to ourselves?” Crocker called his actions “the lowest form of communication” and said he was picking on Aboriginal people.
Liberal Aboriginal affairs spokesperson Josh Teague labelled Bernardi’s comments “grossly offensive” and said they showed One Nation’s lack of focus on important issues. The SA government declined to directly address the videos but emphasised its commitment to an inclusive society. Meanwhile, state opposition leader Ashton Hurn announced that her party will preference One Nation over Labor in all seats.
Kaurna elder Jeffrey Newchurch, who has worked on dual naming policies since the early 2000s, described Bernardi’s rhetoric as “damaging” and said it enables discrimination. He stressed that dual naming promotes reconciliation and identity, saying, “We are working together with the non-Aboriginal community to correct the wrongness that’s been done to us.”
