Peter Dutton has expressed his desire to see respect for traditional welcome to country ceremonies despite his efforts to unite Australians under one flag. Dutton made these comments in the wake of disruptions at Anzac Day services and the sudden cancellation of a welcome ceremony at a major NRL match in Melbourne.
The Melbourne Storm faced criticism for informing Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin that her services were no longer needed to perform a welcome to country ceremony at the club’s Anzac Day clash at AAMI Park against South Sydney on Friday night.
After the Melbourne Storm reversed its position and issued an apology, Ms. Murphy and two other Indigenous groups who were scheduled to perform at the game still went ahead with the cancellation.
Controversy ensued at AAMI Park following interruptions by hecklers during welcome to country addresses at Melbourne and Perth Anzac Day dawn services.
Dutton’s stance on Indigenous acknowledgment and welcome to country ceremonies has been the subject of past controversy. He told 2GB radio in 2023 that such acknowledgments could detract from their significance and accused corporations of using them for “virtue signaling.”
While Dutton urged respect for such ceremonies, he also reaffirmed that if elected prime minister, he would not display the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at official press conferences.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/26/peter-dutton-urges-respect-for-welcome-to-country-but-reaffirms-stance-on-using-one-flag-ntwnfb
