Tony Abbott slams Welcome to Country ceremonies as ‘grating’
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has criticised the widespread use of Welcome to Country ceremonies, calling them divisive, politically charged, and “grating” in the wake of an Anzac Day controversy.
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Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has criticised welcome to country ceremonies, describing them as “grating” and a form of “virtue signalling”.
Mr Abbott said he had always had “a fundamental problem” with welcome to country practices outside Indigenous-specific contexts.
“They suggest that the country belongs more to some people than to others,” Mr Abbott said.
“If we start acknowledging particular groups, why do we single out Indigenous elders as opposed to early settlers, post-war migrants, our war veterans, or even teachers and nurses? Everyone is making their own contribution to Australia.”
Abbott’s comments, made while speaking to 2GB’s Ben Fordham, follow a heated public debate after some Anzac Day ceremonies were interrupted by booing during welcome to country segments.
He said while booing was not appropriate, many veterans had expressed frustration at the practice.
“These are people who have fought for our country. They’ve worn our country’s uniform. Why should one individual be welcoming them to their own country, as if they are less a part of it than the relevant elders or the relevant tribe?” he said.
The former prime minister praised Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for calling out what he described as an overuse of ceremonial acknowledgments.
“Ever since Qantas and Virgin started this practice, I found the notion of having country acknowledged when you land absolutely grating. Why is Melbourne suddenly the preserve of one group, rather than everyone who’s lived there?”
He also argued that welcome to country ceremonies risked undermining Australia’s national identity.
“What happened on 26 January 1788 was wonderful, the beginning of the great country we know as Australia. It was the eruption of the modern onto an ancient continent. It’s something to be celebrated,” he said.
“Sure, history hasn’t been perfect, no one’s history is, but on balance, every Australian should be immensely proud.”
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