In a striking moment that has ignited a fresh wave of cultural debate, Peter Dutton, the opposition leader, has sparked controversy by suggesting that Welcome to Country ceremonies are ‘overdone’ and should be reserved for only significant events, such as the opening of parliament.
This bold statement came during the final leaders’ debate, setting the stage for a contentious final week of the election campaign.
The debate, which took place on Sunday night, saw Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pressed for their views on the ceremonies following an incident where a small group, including individuals identified as neo-Nazis, booed during the Anzac dawn service on Friday.
While Dutton condemned the booing, calling Anzac Day a ‘sacred day’, his comments on Welcome to Country ceremonies have stirred up a cultural storm.
Dutton argued that the frequency of these ceremonies at events like work meetings or football games is causing division among Australians, similar to the debates surrounding the Voice to Parliament in 2023.
‘I think other Australians think it is overdone and cheapens the significance of what it was meant to do,’ he stated.
On the other side of the debate, Albanese maintained that individual organisations should decide whether to include a Welcome to Country, emphasising that these ceremonies are a ‘matter of respect’.
The clash between the two leaders didn’t stop there. Although they both agreed on keeping Australia Day on January 26, Dutton made headlines with his stance on Australian history education.
He criticised the teaching of a version of history that he believes instils shame in Australian children, saying, ‘We have made mistakes in our history, no question about that, but we cannot live with that shame forever.’
The debate, which lasted 60 minutes, was the fourth and final face-off before the May 3rd poll. A panel of 60 undecided voters, assembled by 7News, gave the debate convincingly to Albanese, with 50 per cent voting for him, 25 per cent for Dutton, and 25 percent remaining undecided.
The leaders also sparred over policies to ease cost-of-living pressures, a central issue of the campaign. Dutton criticised Labour’s proposals, including a modest tax cut, as insufficient, likening them to a ‘Band-Aid on a bullet wound’.
Albanese countered by pointing out that the Coalition’s temporary relief measures, such as the fuel excise cut, would soon vanish, advocating for ‘permanent change that makes a real difference’.
In a curious aside, when asked to describe Elon Musk, Dutton referred to him as an ‘evil genius’, a comment that has since raised eyebrows and added an unexpected twist to the debate narrative.
As the campaign draws to a close, the leaders’ debate performances have been under intense scrutiny.
Albanese was voted the winner of the first debate, while Dutton took the title in the Channel Nine debate. The ABC debate did not declare a winner, leaving the public to draw their own conclusions.
Dutton’s comments on Welcome to Country ceremonies have undoubtedly added fuel to the cultural conversation in Australia.
These ceremonies are deeply significant to Indigenous Australians, serving as a traditional greeting and offering respect to the land’s traditional custodians.
The suggestion that they are ‘overdone’ has not only offended many but has also raised questions about the recognition and value of Indigenous culture in contemporary Australian society.
As Australians, many of you have witnessed the evolution of our nation’s relationship with its Indigenous heritage. What are your thoughts on the importance of Welcome to Country ceremonies? Do you feel they are an essential expression of respect, or do you agree with Dutton’s view that their significance is diminished by frequency?
Also read: $550,000 spent by the government on Welcome to Country ceremonies sparks debate
Fake outrage. News Ltd survey says more than 60% want no ‘welcome to country and another 30% want less. Spare us the fake outrage. The war over Australia was lost 200 years ago … get over it. I an 7th generation Aussie in any direction and few of my forebears had any choice in the matter. I do not need welcoming to my own country, nor do I need any acknowledgement of whose land a location might have been when colonists arrived to lift the land out of its pre-stone age existence. Tribal boundaries were fluid anyway and were often fought over.
The welcome to country are misunderstood. They are not welcoming people to their own country as is often stated, and do not differ from any of the states which have welcome signs on the borders. Along each border there are Welcome to Victoria, Welcome to New South Wales, Welcome to Queensland, Welcome to South Australia etc signs. No one is suggesting that state residents are being welcomed to their own states.
It’s also a cultural misunderstanding that applies. If you pay close attention to them, they are on behalf of the local tribe or nation, for example in Melbourne it’s the Wirudjeri people of the Kulin nation. Traditionally they would also welcome other tribes or indigenous nations.
Not something we need or want. I find it extremely irritating and a bit pathetic.
If this country wasn’t part of the Commonwealth and speaking English, I wouldn’t be here.
Not sure why some people seemed ashamed of settler and colonial history.
The English were the first to get rid of slavery, which was occurring all over the world by all sorts of races.
They popularised the art of preservation by having museums, so people could learn about others, that now a minority demonise them for, as well as archaeology and anthropology, instead of what happened to recent Aboriginal bones found and buried with none of this.
They gave races that did not have written language empowerment.
We all need to take a step back from the current hatred fueled by misinformation, disinformation and greed. As human race in 2025, looking back should be an opportunity to learn from past historic tragedies so we can move forward united, respectful and more knowledgeable. But unfortunately greed has the upper hand. Should start taking the monetary value out of some situations and see what transpires. Might be a different outcome.
Agree. These ceremonies are the source of significant funds. If it is the indigenous culture that is important, take the $$$ out of it.
I don’t need welcoming to my own country
The “welcome to country” is overdone. It is included at functions of no relevance. Why is it at football matches, which are not indigenous based.
Why at an Anzac ceremony? It was reported that the indigenous people had a separate Anzac ceremony this year in Canberra.
And then we have the constant respecting of elders of various tribes on the land functions are being held.
On the one hand, inclusion is pushed. On the other, division is created by race.
It seems to be a money making exercise, with significant fees paid for different ceremonies.
We should be striving for one country, one people, one flag. No racial divide.