Tony Abbott lashes Welcome to Country ceremonies, says they 'single out' Indigenous Australians for special treatment in wake of Anzac Day protests
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has taken aim at Welcome to Country ceremonies, saying they suggest Australia "belongs more to some people than others", following a high-profile protest against the practice on Anzac Day.
The debate around Welcome to Country speeches reignited on Friday after a group of people booed a Welcome to Country performed by an Indigenous elder at Melbourne's Shine of Remembrance.
While the act of protest has been widely condemned, some have voiced their opposition to the speeches being given on Anzac Day, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton saying the majority of veterans believe it is inappropriate.
Speaking to 2GB's Ben Fordham on Tuesday morning, Mr Abbott lashed the ceremonies, declaring the "fundamental" problem is that they prioritise certain members of society over others on Anzac Day.
'If they're outside of the context of a particular Indigenous community or a particular Indigenous facility, they suggest that the country belongs more to some people than to others,' he said.
'If we start acknowledging particular groups, why do we single out Indigenous elders as opposed to early settlers, post-war migrants, our war veterans, or maybe our teachers or our nurses?"
The former prime minister argued everyone is 'making their own contribution to Australia', and one group's contribution should not be elevated 'on the basis of race or ancestry'.
Weighing in on the Anzac Day Welcome to Country, Mr Abbott noted veterans were the 'people who have fought for our country'.
'They've worn our country's uniform. Why should one individual be welcoming them to their own country, as if they are less a part of it than the relevant elders or the relevant clan or the relevant tribe?' he said.
'Ever since Qantas and Virgin ad others started this practice, I found the notion of having country acknowledged when you land in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane… absolutely grating.'
'It's become, if you like an exercise in virtue signalling, it's become a badge of political correctness.'
Mr Abbot's remarks came after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton criticised the frequency of Welcome to Country ceremonies during a media conference on Monday.
Mr Dutton, although he did not condone the level of booing on ANZAC Day, said there was a sense 'across the community' that the practice was 'overdone'.
"I think it should be reserved for significant events of our country,' the Opposition Leader said.
Mr Dutton said he believed the Anzac Day dawn ceremonies did not warrant a Welcome to Country.
'Listening to a lot of veterans in this space, and Anzac Day is about our veterans … I think their majority view... would be that they don't want it on that day.'
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