Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has spoken out about “overdone” Indigenous Welcome to Country ceremonies in the fourth and final prime ministerial debate before the May 3 election.
Speaking on the evening of April 27, Dutton was asked about a contentious episode over the long weekend during Anzac Day commemorations on April 25.
Boos and heckling could be heard during a Welcome to Country being performed during the dawn service at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance
At least three men were heard interrupting as Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown, with police later ordering a 26-year-old man to leave the venue.
Attendees reported hearing chants of, “Don’t welcome us to our country,” “What about the Anzacs?” and “We’re here for the Australians.”
Some other attendees reportedly responded by then yelling, “Shame on you,” at the group of men, which included a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi Jacob Hersant.
A similar situation occurred in Perth.
Created in the 1970s, the Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country has become near-pervasive in Australian public life featuring before the start of official events, sporting events, and even on public signage.
Dutton condemned the booing during the solemn Anzac ceremony, but acknowledged a growing sense of annoyance in the community with Welcome to Country ceremonies.
“For the opening of Parliament, fair enough, it’s respectful to do, but for the start of every meeting at work or the start of a football game, I think a lot of Australians think it’s overdone,” he told the Channel 7 debate.
“It cheapens the significance of what it was meant to do.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented that he believed it was up to event organisers to decide whether or not they included a Welcome to Country ceremony.
Dutton’s comments echoed the sentiments of an unidentified veteran who was interviewed in the aftermath of the booing at the Melbourne ceremony.
Channel Nine reporter Mark Santomartino spoke to the man at the Melbourne service who said there was a time and a place for everything.
“I have a lot of veteran mates who haven’t come today solely because of the Welcome to Country because our friends died for this country, for this soil, and for them the ‘welcome’ is a slap in the face,” he told the reporter.
“It’s not right to welcome veterans ... just listen to all the people that have died for this country, for them to ‘welcome’ us in this country is disrespectful.”
People First Party Leader Gerard Rennick also spoke out against the inclusion of the Welcome to the Country ceremony at Anzac Day events.
“It is disrespectful to our veterans and must stop.
“We are there to pay our respects to those who served our country and remember their sacrifices.”
