‘Welcome to Country ceremonies have become divisive due to their frequent occurrence’

Frustration with Welcome to Country is not with Aboriginal people but with those who benefit from racial division, writes Anthony Dillon.

Welcome to Country and Country Acknowledgment ceremonies have become a cause for division.
And given the Indigenous acknowledgments by Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong during their election speeches, we can expect to hear more such ceremonies and hence see more division.

Clearly, some discussion is needed.

By the way, congratulations Mr Albanese.

One of the main reasons for growing resistance to these ceremonies is that we are subjected to them far too often. Whatever significance they may have once held, they have outstayed their welcome.

But there is another reason.

Welcome to Country performed during the 2025 Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars match between the Indigenous All Stars and the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium on February 15, 2025. Picture: Michael Willson

Australians have become annoyed about other matters relating to Aboriginal affairs – but they could not easily express their opinions unless they were happy to face accusations of racism. As a result, these ceremonies have sometimes been seen as a less controversial target.

So, what are these other matters?

Perhaps many Australians are frustrated with the endless claims that racism against Aboriginal Australians is rampant. Maybe we are frustrated with the message that we are oppressors because many of us are white.
Perhaps we are frustrated with the school curriculum being full of Aboriginal content that has little or no subject relevance.

Perhaps we are frustrated with attempts to shame us because on January 26 we celebrate what a great country we live in.
Perhaps we are frustrated with the senseless ideologies of “indigenising” and “decolonising”.
Perhaps we are tired of hearing the lie that only Aboriginal people can help Aboriginal people.
Perhaps we are tired of the silence about violence and dysfunction in Aboriginal communities.
Perhaps we are tired of hearing elite Aboriginal people use their voices to tell us that Aboriginal people lack a voice.

Academic and commentator on Indigenous affairs, Anthony Dillon. Picture: Supplied

Let me be clear, we Aussies are not frustrated with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters.
We are instead frustrated with the problems mentioned above, which largely derive from the Aboriginal industry – those leaders, academics, and select media outlets that derive some benefit from keeping Australia divided by race.

These problems can be addressed, but it will take strong leaders.
The truth is that this nation has an enormous amount of goodwill for Indigenous Australians, even if many of us are not keen on how Welcome and Acknowledgment ceremonies are currently conducted.

The Royal Australian Navy’s ANZAC Class Frigate HMAS Arunta hosts a smoking ceremony. Picture: Supplied

It is better to address these problems than seeking to ban Welcome and Acknowledgment ceremonies.
While I am not keen on these ceremonies, I’m not in favour of a total ban or similar, because to do so might only drive the Aboriginal industry to look for other opportunities to express themselves, such as the Indigenous Voice, treaties and reparations, all of which are additionally harmful and divisive.

How many of us want that?

Anthony Dillon is a commentator on Indigineous affairs.