Tasmania's Aboriginal Affairs Minister has apologised for the publication of a racist slur as a place name on a government map.
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The Tasmanian government will immediately seek to remove the place's name from Parks and Wildlife Service maps after the discovery by a Tasmanian Aboriginal group.
Maps have been published with the name, "Niggerhead Rock", to identify an island off the state's far north-west coast.
The Aboriginal Land Council's chairman, Michael Mansell, is demanding the government recall the maps.
"Burn them, get rid of them," he said.
"Pull the maps back, get rid of them, burn them and do it properly."
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Roger Jaensch has apologised and said the maps would be cut from circulation.
"We are also very sorry and very confronted by these place names being published again," he said.
"It shouldn't have happened.
"I've asked for explanations about how it has happened and I've also asked for these maps to be withdrawn from sale.
"We've been working towards a better, more respectful and inclusive place naming over many years," Mr Jaensch said.
Mr Mansell said he welcomed Mr Jaensch's decision
"Common sense says he should… but the fact the minister doesn't know how the system allowed for this racial slur to get through is a strong indication that the minister is not on top of his game.
Offensive name 'slipped through'
The government will also change online versions of the maps and have hard copies reprinted.
Mr Jaensch suggested the offensive name slipped through and should not appear on any Tasmanian government publications.
The government will investigate whether offensive names can be removed before a new title is chosen through the dual naming process.
"I understand that until a place name is changed, it's still the place name and that's how they've found their way onto these new maps," he said.
Process has 'broken down completely'
A decade ago, the state government said consideration would be given to renaming places or features when the existing name is considered offensive to Tasmania's first nations people.
Mr Mansell said the process had failed.
He wants the policy to be reviewed.
"We're seeing that the Aboriginal community is being completely ignored by the government and by those in the naming process so it is time for review and it is time to go back to square one.
"We thought in 2017 when the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre told the government to get rid of the name that it would be done.
"It's just another way of ignoring completely the views of Aboriginal people by a government that claims it wants to be involved in truth-telling."
