Last Post: Jacinta, welcome to country and Rudd’s portrait

Bravo, Jacinta Price. Having welcome to country before every event is divisive, as is having every place in Australia renamed with an Aboriginal name. Some of these places did not exist prior to colonisation.

Jeff Stokes, Largs Bay, SA.

It’s refreshing to see that Jacinta Price also acknowledges her Celtic background. A pity other Indigenous folk don’t do the same. I, like many others, object to the welcome to country in a land my ancestors helped to build and from which many Indigenous folk have benefited. How is a welcome to country closing the gap?

Sheila Duke, Bulimba, Qld

Jacinta Price’s call to minimise tokenistic welcome to country ceremonies is a wake-up call to corporates and sporting organisations to drop their false “makes us look good” virtue-signalling on social issues.

Kevin Skinner, Lauderdale, Tas

I would welcome a cut to welcome to country. Many of us, especially those of us who were born here, are fed up with continually being publicly welcomed to our own country as if we are outsiders.

Pastor de Lasala, Seaforth, NSW

To me, welcome to country is a damning example of the exclusivity of inclusivity, and so too is the voice referendum.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW

I think it is time to remember the words of the song, I Am Australian, by Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton:

We are one, but we are many

And from all the lands on earth we come

We share a dream and sing with one voice

I am, you are, we are Australian.

Don’t divide us into Aborigines and Australians.

Marian Hinwood, Elsternwick, Vic

I thank The Australian for allowing readers on both sides of the voice debate to express their opinion. I have noted Amy Hiller’s view on the voice (Letters, 14/8) and previously on other topics. It confounds me that she and others still believe the voice is only about recognition and not about changing the Constitution in a way that favours one racial group over the many others.

Victoria Webster, Norwood, SA

Christopher Allen’s review of Kevin Rudd’s portrait (“Portrait of a man determined to maintain control”, 14/8) made me think of the Mac Davis song, Oh Lord, It’s Hard To Be Humble.

Penni Seignior, Mudgeeraba, Qld

Christopher Allen omits to mention the feet of clay.

John Sheldrick, Peppermint Grove, WA