Welcome to Country powder keg could explode at Magic Round

The divisive Welcome to Country debate has fiercely reignited across the country ahead of the NRL’s showpiece event this weekend, with the organisation confirming its plans for the ceremonies. HAVE YOUR SAY

The fierce Welcome to Country debate has reignited across the country ahead of the NRL’s showpiece event in Brisbane this weekend, sparking questions on when and if it will be used.

With kick-off to the Women’s State of Origin, the prelude to Magic Round, just over 48 hours away, the nation is in a frenzy over when and where the ceremonies are appropriate.

As tensions rose, a Welcome to Country ceremony for the match between the Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs in Melbourne on Anzac Day was cancelled at the last minute, just hours after notorious neo-Nazi Jacob Hersant booed elder uncle Mark Brown during a Welcome to Country at a Melbourne dawn service.

On Tuesday morning, the NRL confirmed the Welcome to Country will take place prior to the Women’s State of Origin clash on Thursday, as well as Magic Round on Friday.

“We will continue with our usual practices which includes a Welcome to Country for Women’s State of Origin and the beginning of Magic Round,” the spokesman said.

“The protocols are an important part of the NRL’s Reconciliation Action Plan.”

The weekend will feature a host of Indigenous stars including Latrell Mitchell, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo and Jaime Chapman.

Brisbane Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo will be in action at Magic Round. Picture: NRL Photos

In the final leaders’ debate on Sunday, Peter Dutton said members of the public had told him they felt Welcome to Country ceremonies were “overdone”.

“People have said this to me as we moved across the country, there is a sense across the community that it’s overdone,” Mr Dutton said.

“For the opening of parliament, fair enough, it’s respectful to do but for the start of every meeting at work or the start of a football game, I think a lot of Australians think it’s overdone and it cheapens the significance of what it was meant to do.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was up to event organisers whether a Welcome to Country was held or not.

“Well, from my perspective, it’s a matter of respect, but it’s also, of course, up to the organisations that are hosting an event of whether they have a Welcome to Country or not,” Mr Albanese said.

A Courier-Mail Facebook poll revealed 97 per cent of Queenslanders agreed with Mr Dutton that the ceremony was overdone.

“Yes, it definitely is. We are all Australians! Get over it!!,” Irene O’Doherty said in response to the poll.

“Yes definitely, stop causing division amongst the Australian people. Aren’t we all one in this country, we all have something to contribute,” Mary Summerscales said.

The head of one of the organisations involved in bringing Magic Round to Brisbane said they had a place at NRL’s showpiece event.

Brisbane Economic Development Agency chief executive Anthony Ryan told ABC Radio Brisbane that Welcome to Country “absolutely has a place” at the eight-game rugby league round.

“Welcome to Country, I think is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our First Nations culture,” Mr Ryan said.

“It is something that, particularly when we’re bringing visitors into our city, I think there is nothing wrong with it and I think it’s respectful that we welcome them to our city.”

Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country have become common in corporate and government workplaces before meetings.

“It doesn’t really bother me that much, if that’s what they want to do, that’s cool,” an employee of a government-owned corporation said.

“But some people have very strong opinions about it.”

The employee, who wasn’t born in Australia, added they felt it was not appropriate for them to deliver an Acknowledgement of Country.

“You don’t have to do it, it’s just an option, if you feel it’s appropriate,” they said.

“It just doesn’t feel appropriate for me to be doing it.

“I am working with people that I know very well, it’s not like I am working with a bunch of strangers, it just feels like that’s an odd thing to do.”

Originally published as Welcome to Country powder keg could explode at Magic Round