One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has sparked controversy by branding Welcome to Country ceremonies as 'left-wing virtue signalling' and declaring she is 'tired' of them. The remarks came after Labor leader Anthony Albanese was booed while acknowledging traditional land owners on stage at Bluesfest in Byron Bay.
In a Facebook post, Senator Hanson wrote: 'I don't know about you but I am very tired of being left out of the ''welcome'' to my own country.' She claimed the practice is a 'modern invention' and 'just one of the many overused methods of left-wing virtue signalling that shoehorns politics and pandering into everyday life.'
Welcome to Country ceremonies between Indigenous Australian communities date back thousands of years, but the first for non-Indigenous Australians was performed in 1976 by TV presenter Ernie Dingo and musician Richard Walley. Indigenous elders now regularly give such welcomes at major events including sports games and concerts.
Senator Hanson argued that her party believes 'everyone should be equal' and that 'we shouldn't be elevating one group above others.' She added: 'We are all Australians equally sharing our country together. That's why you won't ever hear me welcoming people to their own country.'
At Bluesfest on Sunday night, Mr Albanese was introduced on stage to introduce rock legend Jimmy Barnes. He was initially met with boos before receiving cheers as he promised a funding boost for the arts sector. He acknowledged the traditional owners of the land, saying: 'I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land in which we meet, pay my respect to elders past and present and what we want is to recognise First Nations people in our constitution.'
