Welcome to Country: What could be worse?

Anthony Dillon

10 May 2025

Many of us know that the Welcome to Country and Acknowledgment of Country ceremonies, hereinafter sometimes conveniently referred to as ceremony or ceremonies in this article, have become a cause for division in this country. And given the recent acknowledgements by Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong during their victory speeches, we can expect to hear more of these ceremonies, and hence, see more division. So clearly, some discussion is needed, sooner, rather than later.

We also know one of the main reasons why there has been growing resistance to these ceremonies—we are subjected to them far too often. It would seem that whatever significance they may have once held, they have outstayed their welcome for many of us.

But there is another reason why people are increasingly annoyed with these ceremonies. Over many years Australians have become annoyed about other matters relating to Aboriginal affairs, but for which they could not easily express their opinions or vent their frustration, unless of course they were happy to face accusations of racism. As a result, these ceremonies have sometimes been seen as the last straw. As such, they have become the convenient target for frustrated Aussies to express their annoyance.

So, what are some of these other matters that Australians are frustrated with?

Perhaps many Australians are frustrated with the endless claims that racism against Aboriginal Australians is rampant? Maybe we are frustrated with the not-so-subtle message that we are the oppressors because many of us are White? Perhaps we are frustrated with the school curriculum being overloaded with Aboriginal content, that too often has little or no relevance to the subjects in question?

Perhaps we are frustrated with attempts to make us feel ashamed because we celebrate on 26 January every year 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 understand and help Aboriginal people? Perhaps we are tired of the silence about the high rates of 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?

At this point, let me be clear, we Aussies are not frustrated with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters as such. We are frustrated with the problems mentioned above, which largely derive from the Aboriginal industry. And by Aboriginal industry, I’m referring to those leaders, academics, and select media outlets that derive some benefit from keeping Australia divided on the basis of race.

So where to from here? Clearly, the aforementioned examples are legitimate grounds for Australians to feel frustrated. These problems can be addressed, but it will take strong leaders who insist on truth telling. The truth that needs telling is that this nation has an enormous amount of good will for Aboriginal Australians, even if many of us are not keen on how Welcome and Acknowledgement ceremonies are currently conducted.

It is better to address these problems than seeking to ban the 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, reparations, etc., all of which are far more harmful and divisive than any Welcome or Acknowledgement ceremony. How many of us want that? We must do better.