A booing incident during Anzac Day memorial services on April 25, 2026, has highlighted ongoing public debate in Australia regarding the use and meaning of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies.
The Incident
During Anzac Day memorial services on April 25, 2026, certain members of the audience booed and heckled elders performing Welcome to Country ceremonies.
Political Reaction
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor subsequently stated that Welcome to Country ceremonies are overused and have become devalued.
Historical Background
- For tens of thousands of years, Aboriginal nations have conducted formal welcomes or acknowledgements when interacting between different territories.
- Traditional practice involved visitors meeting in neutral territory where Elders would introduce and welcome them, establishing kinship and reciprocal responsibilities.
- Senior Larrakia elder Dr. Richard Fejo described the traditional practice as requiring visitors to wait at territory boundaries and explain their purpose. If deemed acceptable, they would be welcomed with "guidance and protection of ancestors," and were obligated to care for the land and community.
- The modern form of Welcome to Country is attributed to Richard Walley and Ernie Dingo, who first performed it for Polynesian performers in 1978.
- Acknowledgement of Country has become widespread in recent decades, appearing in settings from preschool to parliament.
Perspectives on Current Practice
Criticism of Overuse
- Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has argued the ceremonies are overused and have become devalued.
- Noongar leader Colleen Hayward expressed the view that welcomes risk losing value when overused. She advocates for their use at significant events only, where they can enrich and connect people.
Defense of Tradition
- Dr. Richard Fejo stated that modern welcomes should educate audiences about Aboriginal culture. He compared opposition to turning one's back on history, likening it to Nazi book burning.
Proposed Alternative Approach
Authors Lynette Riley and Jioji Ravulo have argued for moving beyond scripted acknowledgements toward more personal introductions.
They propose that individuals should share who they are, where they come from, and their personal and professional histories before acknowledging the Country. This approach aims to foster genuine connection and understanding.
Authors' Affiliations
- Professor Jioji Ravulo has iTaukei Fijian heritage.
- Aunty Professor Lynette Riley is a Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi woman from Dubbo and Moree.
- Both are academics at the University of Sydney.
Parallel Practices
Similar practices exist in iTaukei (Indigenous) Fijian communities, where individuals introduce themselves by acknowledging their village and land.
Related Events
An Anzac Day incident in 2023 was also reported, in which welcomes at dawn services were met with racist booing and heckling.