‘Had a gutful': One Nation turns back on Welcome to Country in parliament
One Nation senators turning their backs sparked discussions about respect and acknowledgment of Indigenous culture.
Ms Hanson stated this act of protest has been ongoing, expressing frustrations about the frequency of such ceremonies.
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Sky News AU
14 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘She showed fabulous leadership': Senate Opposition leader's fierce defence of Jacinta Price hailed by Bronwyn Bishop
Former Speaker of the House Bronwyn Bishop has praised Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash's fierce defence of Jacinta Nampijunpa Price in the upper house for her stance on Welcome to Country. The Senate Opposition Leader took aim at Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong in the Senate on Thursday for having 'sought to dismiss" Indigenous Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's views on the ceremonies. Ms Price said during the Senate session she was "sick to death" of Indigenous heritage being 'objectified" and used as a "political token" – remarks that followed One Nation Senators turning their backs in protest of an Acknowledgment of Country during the opening of Parliament this week. In response, Ms Wong then urged Ms Price to heed the words of Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who is more supportive of Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies. The move by the Foreign Minister triggered a fiery speech by Ms Cash, which referred to Ms Price's past and upbringing. Speaking to Sky News host Rowan Dean on Friday, Ms Bishop praised Ms Cash's address and hailed her impassioned delivery. 'And that speech was outstanding because it was passionate, it came right from the heart. And it's about time this whole issue was debated,' Ms Bishop said. 'When you heard what Jacinta had to say and the description that Michaela just gave of what Jacinta has had to put up with all her life ... she is a woman of courage, and Michaelia coming in like that, which Penny Wong tried to stop as I understand it, she just nailed it strongly, and you could hear people all over Australia cheering.' The former Liberal titan also applauded comments made by Ms Cash since her Senate speech, in which she outlined that all senators - including Ms Price - had the right to their own opinion. 'And then to be railed upon by Senator Wong with a 'Wongism', saying 'look at me I'm so superior to all of you', that it really just got to Michaelia, and she showed fabulous leadership for the person she is,' Ms Bishop said. The place of Acknowledgment of Country ceremonies in Parliament have come under the microscope this week following One Nation's protest on Tuesday. Ms Hanson and all three other One Nation senators turned their backs during the ceremony in the upper house, becoming one of the most significant protests of its kind to be staged in the chamber. The party's leader, joining Ms Bishop and Rowan Dean on Friday further cemented her firm opposition to the acknowledgments being a regular part of on parliamentary proceedings, brushing off suggestions the protest was a 'stunt' 'I don't care what people think about it. People have congratulated me on our stance. We're sick and tired of this Welcome to Country ... People are sick and hard of hearing it and being disenfranchised from our own land,' she told Sky News.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
WA Liberal senator Michaelia Cash stands firm on ‘one flag'
A senior Liberal Party figure has backed calls for leader Sussan Ley to not use the Indigenous flag and dump 'tokenistic' Welcome to Country ceremonies and acknowledgments before official events. The two motions will be debated at Saturday's WA Liberal Party council, and has been supported by the Coalition's foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash, after an explosive Senate debate on Welcome to Country ceremonies. On flag recognition, the motion 'calls on the Ley Opposition to adopt a policy that in addition to the Australian national flag, only flags representing official jurisdictions (such as states and territories) or government institutions (such as the armed forces) be given formal Commonwealth recognition'. Another motion will call on the federal Liberal Party to state that 'Welcome to Country ceremonies and acknowledgments should not hold official status as they are tokenistic at best and do nothing to improve the lives of our most disadvantaged Australians'. Senator Cash said she supported both motions and 'welcome them being debated at the WA State Liberal Party Council'. 'It has been my long held belief and I am on the public record saying that there is one national flag and we should all unite under it,' she said. 'On the Welcome to Country issue my long held position, that is again on the public record, is consistent with the motion.' The motions and Senator Cash's comments also split with the stance taken by the Opposition Leader who said that, while 'we should unite under the one Australian flag,' she was 'happy to stand in front of the Aboriginal flag'. Camera Icon Cash has repeatedly spoken in favour of removing the Indigenous flag and Welcome to Country ceremonies from official proceedings. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'Had a gutful' Debate on Welcome to Country ceremonies intensified on the first day of the new parliament after One Nation senators Pauline Hanson, Malcolm Roberts, Tyron Whitten and Warwick Stacey turned their backs on the chamber on Tuesday. While their actions were condemned by Labor and the Greens, party leader Senator Hanson said she had 'had a gutful' of the process. 'I have had enough, and I do not want a Welcome to Country and to be disenfranchised from my own country that I was born here,' she said. Senator Cash delivered an explosive spray at Foreign Minister Penny Wong, accusing the Labor senator of demeaning Indigenous Country Liberal Senator Jacinta Price, who said she was 'sick to death' of being 'objectified' and used as 'political tokens'. Earlier, Senator Wong urged Senator Price to follow Ms Ley's comments for the party to 'recommit ourselves to the taking of practical action to improve lives and expand opportunities for Indigenous Australians in every part of our great country'. Firing back, Senator Cash defended Senator Price. 'Do not ever demean anybody. Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Her mother's story — Bess Price — I suggest you all read it. A woman walking through the desert was her mother,' Ms Cash said. 'I suggest you read the story of Bess Price before you ever come in here and cast aspersions or tell us, Senator Wong, to respect other words. 'I will stand by and respect Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who every day has lived and breathed reconciliation in this country. Her father is white, her mother is black. 'Don't ever come into this place again and pontificate to us like you've just done.' Camera Icon Senator Wong clashed with Senator Cash over Welcome to Country ceremonies and their place within Australian parliamentary procedure. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy also questioned the Liberal Party's splintered view on Indigenous affairs. 'It was interesting because Sussan Ley sat next to Aunty Violet with the opening of the parliament and with the Prime Minister, and wanted to reset the direction for the Coalition,' she told the ABC on Thursday. While Senator McCarthy said people would bring their 'own personal opinions' into the debate around Welcome to Country ceremonies, she urged senators to be respectful. 'I don't think it will ever be settled because there will always be differing opinions,' she said. 'What was important was to remind Senators that we have a duty to the Senate to uphold, as Senator Wong said this week, to uphold democracy and the institutions of democracy in this country. And if we as Senators don't do it, then why are we there?'
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
WA Liberal senator Michaelia Cash stands firm on ‘one flag'
A senior Liberal Party figure has backed calls for leader Sussan Ley to not use the Indigenous flag and dump 'tokenistic' Welcome to Country ceremonies and acknowledgments before official events. The two motions will be debated at Saturday's WA Liberal Party council, and has been supported by the Coalition's foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash, after an explosive Senate debate on Welcome to Country ceremonies. On flag recognition, the motion 'calls on the Ley Opposition to adopt a policy that in addition to the Australian national flag, only flags representing official jurisdictions (such as states and territories) or government institutions (such as the armed forces) be given formal Commonwealth recognition'. Another motion will call on the federal Liberal Party to state that 'Welcome to Country ceremonies and acknowledgments should not hold official status as they are tokenistic at best and do nothing to improve the lives of our most disadvantaged Australians'. Senator Cash said she supported both motions and 'welcome them being debated at the WA State Liberal Party Council'. 'It has been my long held belief and I am on the public record saying that there is one national flag and we should all unite under it,' she said. 'On the Welcome to Country issue my long held position, that is again on the public record, is consistent with the motion.' The motions and Senator Cash's comments also split with the stance taken by the Opposition Leader who said that, while 'we should unite under the one Australian flag,' she was 'happy to stand in front of the Aboriginal flag'. 'Had a gutful' Debate on Welcome to Country ceremonies intensified on the first day of the new parliament after One Nation senators Pauline Hanson, Malcolm Roberts, Tyron Whitten and Warwick Stacey turned their backs on the chamber on Tuesday. While their actions were condemned by Labor and the Greens, party leader Senator Hanson said she had 'had a gutful' of the process. 'I have had enough, and I do not want a Welcome to Country and to be disenfranchised from my own country that I was born here,' she said. Senator Cash delivered an explosive spray at Foreign Minister Penny Wong, accusing the Labor senator of demeaning Indigenous Country Liberal Senator Jacinta Price, who said she was 'sick to death' of being 'objectified' and used as 'political tokens'. Earlier, Senator Wong urged Senator Price to follow Ms Ley's comments for the party to 'recommit ourselves to the taking of practical action to improve lives and expand opportunities for Indigenous Australians in every part of our great country'. Firing back, Senator Cash defended Senator Price. 'Do not ever demean anybody. Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Her mother's story — Bess Price — I suggest you all read it. A woman walking through the desert was her mother,' Ms Cash said. 'I suggest you read the story of Bess Price before you ever come in here and cast aspersions or tell us, Senator Wong, to respect other words. 'I will stand by and respect Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who every day has lived and breathed reconciliation in this country. Her father is white, her mother is black. 'Don't ever come into this place again and pontificate to us like you've just done.' Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy also questioned the Liberal Party's splintered view on Indigenous affairs. 'It was interesting because Sussan Ley sat next to Aunty Violet with the opening of the parliament and with the Prime Minister, and wanted to reset the direction for the Coalition,' she told the ABC on Thursday. While Senator McCarthy said people would bring their 'own personal opinions' into the debate around Welcome to Country ceremonies, she urged senators to be respectful. 'I don't think it will ever be settled because there will always be differing opinions,' she said. 'What was important was to remind Senators that we have a duty to the Senate to uphold, as Senator Wong said this week, to uphold democracy and the institutions of democracy in this country. And if we as Senators don't do it, then why are we there?'
