Australians push back on Welcome to Country ceremonies, new poll from Institute of Public Affairs reveals
According to the survey, conducted by research firm Dynata, 56 per cent of people believe the ceremonies have become divisive.
Twenty-seven per cent of people said they were unsure while 17 per cent disagreed that the ceremonies had become divisive.
Half of all people (49 per cent) said Welcome to Country ceremonies should not be performed at sporting matches.
Thirty per cent supported the ceremonies at sporting matches while 21 per cent were unsure.
Among younger people, aged 18 to 24, 48 per cent agreed the ceremonies are divisive - more than double the 22 per cent who disagreed.
Deputy Executive Director of the IPA Daniel Wild said the findings reflected widespread frustration with what he described as 'divisive and pointless' cultural rituals.
'Australians have had an absolute gutful of divisive and pointless Welcome to Country ceremonies,' Mr Wild said on Sunday.
'Only one-third (of people said) they want the ceremonies performed before major events such as ANZAC Day and sporting matches,' Mr Wild said.
'Even younger Australians, who the political class insist are left-wing and woke, by a two-to-one margin believe Welcome to Country performances are divisive.'
The survey comes after the official Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne was protested with members of the crowd booing and yelling during the Welcome to Country.
According to the survey, 46 per cent of Australians do not want Welcome to Country ceremonies at ANZAC Day events.
The release of the polling coincides with new Opposition Leader Sussan Ley adopting an Acknowledgement of Country in her first National Press Club address.
She practiced the ritual after former opposition leader Peter Dutton argued they were overdone, and said he would not use aboriginal flags if elected prime minister.
Ms Ley told journalists she supported Acknowledgement and Welcome of Country ceremonies when they were 'meaningful'.
'With respect to Welcome to Country, it's simple: if it's meaningful, if it matters, if it resonates, then it's in the right place,' she said, after being elected as opposition leader.
Mr Wild criticised Ms Ley's approach, arguing it remains out of step with public opinion.
'Her stance on holding welcome to country ceremonies 'in significant moments' is at odds with modern Australia, with just one-third backing the practice,' Mr Wild said.
'Common-sense, working-class, mainstream Australians understand something that the highly credentialed elites do not.
"Australians do not want to be divided by race, and we do not want or need to be welcomed to our own country."
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