SYDNEY, Nov 17: An Australian aboriginal group has opposed a plan to re-name Mount Niggerhead, a rocky outcrop in the northeast, saying the new name was just as offensive, local media reported on Monday.

Mount Niggerhead, located in Victoria state, has been the centre of debate for decades, prompting the state government to recently announce its name would change to Jaithmathangs, after an aboriginal language group.

But another aboriginal group, the Dhudhuroas, say the peak is part of their country and have threatened to sue the authorities if they went ahead with it, the Australian Associated Press said.

“It’s a bit like renaming Australia as England,” said Gary Murray, co-chair of the Dhudhuroa Native Title Group. “The name is linguistically and culturally inappropriate.”

Murray said Dhudhuroa members are planning to protest outside the Victoria state parliament when the mountain gets its new name next month.

Local media said the peak will be officially renamed on Dec 12.—Reuters