But Labor councillors have vowed to raise the matter every 90 days until a Welcome To Country statement is introduced.

Liberal councillors Michelle Byrne, Robyn Preston, Mike Thomas, Greg Burnett and Andrew Jefferies attacked Labor councillor Barbara Burton's decision to reignite discussion about the statement on Tuesday night.

Cr Burnett said it was ``scurrilous and outrageous to use the Aboriginal people as a political football every 90 days''.

Cr Thomas said to introduce the acknowledgment would be ``divisive'' and ``offensive to me and everyone who thinks all men are equal''.

``As elected councillors, we represent all members of the community and it's inappropriate to give recognition to one group in the community and give special preferences,'' he said.

Crs Thomas, Preston and Byrne were responsible for asking for the matter to be reconsidered which led to its defeat after it was originally passed on March 23.

``My opinion has not shifted one degree since then,'' Cr Preston said. ``This can be brought to council every 90 days and I will vote exactly the same way. I won't elevate one race over another.''

Every Liberal councillor except Justin Taunton and Larry Bolitho voted again to not include the acknowledgment in the Code of Meeting Practice.

Cr Bolitho calculated it would take about 15 seconds to read the acknowledgment before each meeting, or about five minutes a year.

``The debate took about an hour,'' he said. ``This equates to a decade and a half worth of time reading the acknowledgment. I am sorry this came up at this time because I believe that with the passage of time a more bipartisan approach can be reached.''

Cr Burton has refused to back down, saying the Labor councillors would raise the matter every three months ``for the next 10 years'' if necessary.

``It's the right thing to do,'' she said. ``It will enable the council to be the best it can be for the community. It's a very small step towards showing respect.''