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By CAITLIN POWELL FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 02:09 BST, 29 April 2025 | Updated: 02:22 BST, 29 April 2025
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson has revealed the Coalition will not introduce laws dictating when Welcome to Country ceremonies can be held. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said on Sunday that the ceremonies are ‘overdone’ and, while appropriate for the opening of Parliament, they are not suited for events like Anzac Day, on planes, at the footy, or at the start of meetings.Mr Paterson doubled down on Mr Dutton’s comments on Tuesday and clarified the Coalition’s policy on the issue.’My view is, it’s up to event organisers,’ he told ABC News Breakfast.’What Peter [Dutton] said is, in his judgement, he thinks probably the majority of veterans don’t want to have a Welcome to Country at these events, but he also said it’s a matter for organisers.’Senator Paterson confirmed there will be no changes to laws around the ceremonies, but highlighted that doing ‘too much’ risks making the ceremonies ‘tokenistic’.’We’re not proposing new legislation or a new law to dictate when there should or shouldn’t be welcomed to countries,’ he said.’We’ve said that we think they are appropriate at some events.’ During the final leader’s debate on Sunday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (pictured) said Welcome to Country ceremonies are ‘overdone”We’ve all seen events where on Zoom calls, people are doing various Acknowledgements of Country,’ he said.Another example from Senator Paterson was conferences ‘where every single speaker does it’.’I think some Australians think that’s a bit too much and it cheapens it if it’s tokenistic,’ he said.The comments follow a national conversation ignited by a group of protesters who booed the Welcome to Country during a Dawn Service on Anzac Day.Heckles and boos were picked up by microphones and loudspeakers during Bunurong elder Mark Brown’s address, making the disturbance clearly audible.’It’s our country!’ one yelled.’We don’t have to be welcomed!’ screamed another.Both the Opposition Leader and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese slammed the small group for their behaviour, saying there was no place for it during the commemoration. The Welcome to Country is an Indigenous ancestral cleansing practice which is used to welcome people to traditional lands (pictured, Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown delivering a Welcome to Country on Anzac Day)As a result, Welcome to Country ceremonies became a hot topic during the pair’s final leader’s debate, hosted on Channel Seven on Sunday night.Channel Seven political editor Mark Riley asked the pair to weigh in on the appropriateness and frequency of Welcome to Country ceremonies.Mr Dutton elaborated on why he believes Welcome to Country ceremonies were ‘overdone’.’To do it for the start of every meeting at work, or the start of a football game I think other Australians think it is overdone,’ Dutton said.’It cheapens the significance of what it was meant to do. It’s dividing the country, not dissimilar to what the prime minister did with the Voice.’But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Welcome to Country was a mark of respect.’People are entitled to their views, but we have the great privilege of sharing this continent with the oldest continuous culture on earth,’ he said.The Welcome to Country is an Indigenous ancestral cleansing practice which is used to welcome people to traditional lands.
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Coalition makes major decision about Welcome to Country laws
