‘I’d like a refund’: Ratepayers explode over Welcome to Country bill

Anger has exploded across South East Queensland after it was revealed local councils are spending tens of thousands of dollars on Welcome to Country ceremonies. WHAT YOU SAID

Ratepayers aren’t happy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Anger has exploded across South East Queensland after it was revealed local councils are spending tens of thousands of dollars on Welcome to Country ceremonies.

A Sunday Courier Mail investigation found Brisbane ratepayers are footing a $135,000 bill for the events in the last two years alone.

It follows revelations that an Aboriginal corporation sought to charge a battling small town surf club a $2000 “fee for service” for Welcome to Country ceremonies at four surf carnivals, a North Queensland mayor describing them as “bulls--t” and some councils around Australia moving to dump them.

According to the National Association for the Visual Arts, the standard fee for Welcome to Country ceremonies ranges from $300 to $750.

Here’s what you said about the situation:

Albo, you have done it again

Chris

Well done Albo. This is your legacy. A divided Australia where each and every welcome to country is an additional wedge between us all.

The welcome to country needs to be stopped now before more damage is done and there is no way we should ever be paying to be in our own country.

Layne

Albo, you have done it again. You have caused division, debt, disasters, direction, dishonesty. Well done. We are one nation. No more welcome, thanks.

Marita

Thanks Albo, more division, yet you as leader of this country say silent.

I would like a refund

Keven

As I’m a rate payer and didn’t authorise my rates to be spent on this rubbish I would like a refund.

Wayne

Don’t want it. Don’t need it. Don’t like it. Don’t agree with it. Don’t want to pay no more.

Martin

At times like these we cannot afford any, nice to have, discretional expenditure. The answer is simple, stop doing the welcome to country ceremonies.

Kev

Another indirect and unnecessary addition to the current cost of living crisis.

semi-retired

How about a tick box on our rates notices for additional funds to be paid by those who want to support welcome to country services? If you dont want it, dont tick!

Why aren’t they audited?

Frances

Over 3000 Aboriginal Corporations already receive federal government funding. What do they do with the millions and why aren’t they audited?

Ross

Welcome to country is not a ceremony deep in meaning, it is a money making industry for a select few.

Kym

It’s all done for profit. If it was so important, they would do WTC for free.

Farmerp

There it is again. Not about making anyone feel better or improving anything but a bank balance.

Enough of this woke nonsense

Mark

I don’t need to be welcomed to the country I was born in. Nor for which my grandfather fought for. Enough of this woke nonsense, we voted no.

Col

NO means NO, that is what Australians said. Stop this madness NOW.

Brett

Thank goodness this nonsense is finally being called out.

Ian

Paying money for a so called tradition only invented by an actor in the 90s. This country doesn’t deserve the actual traditions it holds. Go woke go broke we are becoming a divided country.

Luke

Every country/land on earth has been fought over, taken over or conquered. The wokeness in society has gone too far and needs to stop.