Peter Dutton says Welcome to Country should be reserved for significant events

Peter Dutton has doubled-down on his Welcome to Country stance, saying the “overdone” practice should only be done at significant events.

The Opposition leader on Monday also said Qantas had gone “over the top” by acknowledging the traditional owners of every destination where its planes arrive.

The latest scrutiny of when a welcome to country is appropriate was sparked after far-right protesters in Perth and Melbourne interrupted the ceremonies during dawn services on Friday, which Anthony Albanese condemned.

Mr Dutton also condemned the actions, but said during Sunday night’s fourth and final leaders’ debate on 7News he believed Welcome to Country’s had become “overdone” and risked being cheapened by being used too often.

On Monday, the Opposition leader doubled-down and said they should only be held at “significant events” like the opening of Parliament.

When asked if that included Anzac Day, he said the day was for the nation’s veterans.

“No, would be my answer to that,” Mr Dutton said.

“It’s ultimately a decision for the individual organisers of the events, and they can make a decision based on their membership and what their board wants to do.

“I mean, that’s a decision for them, and I’d respect that.

“Anzac Day is about our veterans. It’s about 103,000 Australians who have died in service of our country.

“I think if you’re listening to their sentiment, and we’re respectful of that sentiment on Anzac Day, I think their majority view would be, my read of our vets would be that they don’t, they don’t want it on that day.”

Mr Dutton said governments should prioritise supporting practical reconciliation measures in health, education, housing and safety.

“We want to help every Australian, and we want to make sure that we can respect Australians but not to diminish the significance of a Welcome to Country, which I think is taking place and I think that’s the experience of many Australians,” Mr Dutton said.

Figures collected by the Coalition through freedom of information show Federal departments spent about $555,000 on Welcome to Country ceremonies over two years to mid-2024.

The National Association for Visual Arts suggest fees be set between $300 and $750 per welcome, with other elements or travel costs additional.

A Welcome to Country is an Indigenous custom where a traditional owner welcomes visitors to their lands — not the whole of Australia — and offers them safe passage.

They can be arrange through land councils, community organisations or directly with local elders.

Acknowledgements of Country are different, entailing statements of respect for traditional owners made by anyone, which were also criticised by Mr Dutton when asked whether the acknowledgement played on Qantas flights when they land in a new location.

“I think that’s over the top,” Mr Dutton said.

Mr Albanese said he saw them as a matter of respect, but put the onus on organisations.

“I don’t want to engage in fighting culture wars. I want to engage in fighting for the Australian people,” he said.

“This is a complete distraction by Peter Dutton, who wants to talk about anything but cost of living.

“It is something that, to me, is a matter of just courtesy, but it’s up to organisations whether they have it or not. I find it uplifting and a matter of good manners.”

Senior Liberal frontbencher Jane Hume said while she found an appropriately timed Welcome to Country incredibly moving, “if there’s an acknowledgement of Country from every single person sitting around a table at every meeting you go to . . . it loses its value, it loses its meaning, and that’s a concern”.

In WA, premier Roger Cook said the ceremonies were a matter of respect and defended payments to elders who perform them at official events.

“I’ve never met anyone that would suggest the only reason why they do a Welcome to Country is because there might be some compensation for them being there,” he said.

Greens senator Dorinda Cox accused Mr Dutton of trying to “re-stoke the culture wars and import Trump-like politics”.

“First Nations people are not a political football for leaders in this country to punch down on when they are trying to lean into a racially charged far-right approach,” the WA senator and party spokesperson for Indigenous Australians said.