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Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Liberal senator Michaelia Cash says Welcome to Country ceremonies ‘tokenistic'
Senior Liberal senator Michaelia Cash has given a strong take-down of the 'tokenistic' use of Welcome to Country ceremonies being conducted at official events, stating they make people 'feel good' while turning a 'blind eye to the realities faced' by First Nations people. The view, which differs from the position held by Sussan Ley, comes as the contentious motion was debated at the WA Liberal Party council on Saturday. State members called on the Opposition Leader 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'. Practically, this means the rituals would not be performed during sporting matches, and official functions like Anzac Day Dawn Services and the opening of parliament. A second motion also called on the federal party to only give 'formal Commonwealth recognition' to the Australian national, and state flags. 'Overdone' Speaking to Sky, Senator Cash stood by her strong support of the motions, stating its been her 'fundamental belief for a very long time'. 'They have now become so overdone, they are tokenistic. But more than this, as a Western Australian, and we live in a big state and there are large Indigenous communities, the one thing I want Australians focused on is not tokenistic gestures that make us feel good whilst we turn and a blind eye to the realities faced in Indigenous communities on the ground.' She said she 'stood with' Indigenous Country Liberal Party senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, and would do so 'any day of the week,' and called for 'practical' policies. 'We want to see all Australians unite and focus on the practical policy outcomes that will make a difference … in the lives of the most disadvantaged in this country,' she said. 'The one thing we should unite under is making a practical difference, a positive difference in their lives. It's my focus … I can be judged for that.' On Tuesday, One Nation senators fuelled debate after Pauline Hanson, Malcolm Roberts, Tyron Whitten and Warwick Stacey turned their backs on the chamber during a Welcome to Country ceremony. Later speaking to Sky, Senator Hanson said she 'had a gutful' of the rituals. '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. Minister for Indigenous Australias Malarndirri McCarthy said the act was 'disrespectful' and 'unacceptable' given senators 'represent millions of Australians and that includes First Nations people'. While she said it was improper parliamentary conduct, Senator McCarthy acknowledged that there will 'always be differing opinions' on the matter. 'I expect that people will bring their own personal opinions and views into it, but it really was about the conduct of the Senate and senators, and it was important that we put on the record that all senators in there are there to represent Australians and to do so with dignity and respect,' she told the ABC. Originally published as Liberal senator Michaelia Cash says Welcome to Country ceremonies 'tokenistic,' don't improve lives of First Nations
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Politics
- 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
6 days ago
- Politics
- 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?'
Perth Now
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Shirtless Baz? Liberal leader soaks up sun on Greek holiday
WA Liberal Party leader Basil Zempilas has traded his tailored suits for boardies and thongs as he enjoys a sunny family holiday in Greece. Mr Zempilas joined his wife Amy and children Ava, Chloe and Anthony on the island of Kastellorizo for the family's third visit to the serene eastern Mediterranean destination in seven years. In a series of images shared to Instagram by Ms Zempilas, the Opposition leader cut a relaxed figure as he soaked in the European sunshine and azure waters. WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas on a family holiday in Greece. Unknown Credit: Unknown / Instagram WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas on a family holiday in Greece. Unknown Credit: Unknown / Instagram 'It's impossible to capture the magic that is Kastellorizo. The place my husband's family are from. Where we were married and two of our children were christened,' Ms Zempilas wrote. Framed by boats, quaint restaurants and gorgeous lagoons, the politician appeared noticeably at ease — donning Aviator sunglasses and fishing with his son — as he enjoyed the change of pace. WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas on a family holiday in Greece. Unknown Credit: Unknown / Instagram WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas on a family holiday in Greece. Unknown Credit: Unknown / Instagram Kazzi — as the island is often referred to — lies just 2km off the Turkish coast as Greece's easternmost island. In February, Conde Nast Traveller labelled it 'the secret Greek island to know about for 2025'. Featuring a backdrop of hills shadowing pastel-coloured houses, popular activities include visits to The Blue Grotto sea cave and snorkelling at nearby Saint George Island. Mr Zempilas was noticeably absent from his family's earlier pit stops at the popular tourist islands of Naxos and Santorini. While ostensibly switching his political brain off on his arrival, the former lord mayor's social media feed remains actively campaigning for the Liberal Party.
West Australian
27-06-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
WA Liberals reluctant on idea of implementing gender quotas despite Sussan Ley's backing
The WA Liberal Party is resisting implementing quotas for recruiting more women, as insiders insist the approach it took over the past three years worked well because a third of its candidates at recent elections were women. Federal Liberal leader Sussan Ley has called on her party to look seriously at quotas or merit lists or other strong methods to ensure it preselects more female candidates, saying the decline in numbers of women in the party is a real problem that must be stemmed. Ms Ley acknowledged this week that she couldn't order the State branches of the party what to do, but she asserted that the 'divisions will work with me' to create change. 'We should be having that discussion (about how to recruit more women) but I'm not seeing anyone disagree with the fact that we must get there … we must increase the number of women,' she said on Friday. But senior frontbencher Angus Taylor undercut her push by declaring quotas would 'subvert democracy'. Describing himself as a 'crusader' for women, he said the party should continue to recruit and mentor talented women without implementing targets. 'I'm a great champion for capable, talented women, let me tell you, and I always will be,' he said. WA Liberal sources said the party's Blueprint program that ran over the past three years worked similarly and had led to women putting their hand up to run. Multiple sources said the party had preselected women in winnable seats for the State election, as shown by those who only just missed out such as in South Perth, Pilbara and Kalgoorlie — it just didn't win enough of those seats. In the State election, 30 per cent of lower house Liberals candidates were women. Federally, women made up 25 per cent of WA Liberal candidates, with Melissa Price in Durack and Michaelia Cash, whose Senate seat wasn't up for election this time, the only two heading to Canberra after May 3. WA Liberals are strongly resistant to any possibility east coast party executives would dictate how they choose candidates, suggesting that would be a bad look when the State division has strong female leaders in Senator Cash and president Caroline Di Russo. Hilma's Network founder Charlotte Mortlock said she was fed up with vague promises to listen and do better, taking took aim at Mr Taylor directly, along with Tony Abbott who also publicly opposed quotas. 'If there were alternatives to quotas, why weren't they rolled out after the last smashing?' she said. 'After the last election when we his a historic three-decade low for female representation and that didn't rouse you to organically lift your weight for women … excuse me if I don't believe you this time that you genuinely have any intention of helping women.' The push back comes as The West can reveal new Member for Forrest Ben Small was involved in a 'rude' blow-up during a party executive meeting earlier this month. During the meeting, several senior men pushed back at Ms Ley's insistence the NSW Women's Council head be included in the team sorting out the NSW division, but she ultimately prevailed. Ms Ley referred in her National Press Club speech this week to the party's proud history of women's involvement, dating back to its founding by Robert Menzies in conjunction with the suffragette organisation the Australian Women's National League when the Women's Council were enshrined in the Liberal structure. Federal vice-president Fiona Scott said the whole party had to remember its history. 'We've got to be zealots, we've got to find pathways forward but we've got to remember where we came from. We came out of the suffragette movement,' she said. 'We're not going to fix the women problem by crushing that.' Senior Labor minister Tanya Plibersek said while her party had quotas in place, it rarely had to resort to enforcing them because they focused everyone's minds on the task of finding more women to run in preselections in the first place.
