Welcome to Country ceremonies have become a hugely controversial cultural topic in Australia in recent years.
Renewed attention to the ceremony came during last year’s AFL finals, where Aboriginal Elder Brendan Kerin gave an address before a match between the Giants and the Lions.
Criticisms have also been made over the frequency of the ceremonies, which are performed at cultural and sporting events.
And some in attendance at sporting and other cultural events have booed Welcome to Country ceremonies in the past, while others have taken to social media to express their disapproval of the ceremony.
Others online have questioned why they should be welcomed to their own country, while a motion to abolish the ceremony by a council in New South Wales, was also started in February.
During this year’s State of Origin series, Welcome to Country ceremonies have been held at each of the three Tests at the Suncorp Stadium, Optus Stadium and Accor Stadium.
While there has been large criticism online of the ceremonies online, inside the stadiums there has been very little visible opposition to the ceremonies.
And on Wednesday night in Sydney, fans inside the stadium stood up and cheered after Indigenous Elder Auntie Julie Jones delivered her speech to over 50,000 fans inside the Accor Stadium.
She said: ‘This beautiful country holds and nurtures many stories from the time of creation to the very story we are all creating here tonight.
‘Many people from all walks of life have the privilege of calling this place home.
‘And this country she welcomes you all.
‘When you leave here tonight, leave gently. Your footprints and spirit will be left with her.
‘Thank you. Have an amazing night and enjoy the game.’
A huge roar erupted from the crowd as they waited eagerly for the match to get underway.
Fans took to social media to react to the Welcome to Country ceremony on Wednesday
Some noted the moment on social media, with one rugby league fan writing: ‘Great Welcome to Country. Warmly acclaimed by the crowd.’
However, others were critical of the ceremony, writing on X: ‘The Welcome to Country is not needed in Origin, get rid of it. Everyone is tired of it.’
Another added: ‘Stick your Welcome to Country…’
Back in April, the opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson revealed the Coalition will not introduce laws dictating when Welcome to Country ceremonies can be held.
It came after Peter Dutton said that ceremonies had been ‘overdone’ adding that while they were appropriate for the opening of Parliament they were not perhaps suited for ANZAC Day events.
That same month a group of protesters, one of whom was known to be a neo-Nazi, had booed a Welcome to Country ceremony during Melbourne’s Anzac Day Service.
‘My view is, it’s up to event organisers,’ he told ABC News Breakfast.
‘What Peter [Dutton] said is, in his judgement, he thinks probably the majority of veterans don’t want to have a Welcome to Country at these events, but he also said it’s a matter for organisers.’
More to follow…
