Aussies Increasingly Desire to Ditch ‘Divisive’ Welcome to Country at ANZAC Day and Sporting Events
A new poll has revealed that most Australians now see Welcome to Country ceremonies as divisive, especially at major public events.
More than half of Australians believe that Welcome to Country ceremonies have become divisive, according to a new poll released by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA). The poll reveals that public sentiment is growing that the ceremonies should be removed from national events such as ANZAC Day services and sporting matches.
The nationwide survey of 1,005 Australians, carried out by independent research firm Dynata from 16 to 18 May 2025, found that 56 per cent of respondents view Welcome to Country rituals as divisive. Only 17 per cent disagreed with that conclusion, while 27 per cent were unsure.
“Australians have had an absolute gutful of divisive and pointless Welcome to Country ceremonies,” said Daniel Wild, Deputy Executive Director of the IPA.
“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.”
The results seem to reflect a broader national unease with the increasingly routine use of Welcome to or Acknowledgement of Country performances, whether during significant public events or within the workplace.
Last week, Melbourne-based council worker Shaun Turner was sacked for questioning the repeated practice before work meetings. However, the council reversed the decision following a Fair Work Commission that ruled that his dismissal was unjust.
The shift in public opinion from viewing the ceremonies favourably appears to follow the same support trend as the Voice to Parliament. When the referendum was announced, the Voice enjoyed strong majority backing. But by the time the votes were cast, this had switched to a clear 60.1 per cent to 39.9 per cent national rejection of the proposal.
Discomfort at Sporting Events and ANZAC Dawn Services
One of the poll’s clearest findings concerns national sporting events. Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians believe Welcome to Country ceremonies should no longer be performed before sporting matches. Only 30 per cent support the practice, while 21 per cent are undecided.
The survey also showed a significant generational spread. Older Australians were much more likely to oppose the ceremonies, with 65 per cent of those aged 65 and over supporting their removal from sporting fixtures. In comparison, 40 per cent of those aged between 18 and 24 supported removing them. However, support among younger Australians is still relatively low.
Gender differences were also notable: 56 per cent of men agreed the ceremonies should be discontinued at sporting matches, compared to 42 per cent of women.
A similar pattern was seen in responses to Welcome to Country performances at ANZAC Day services. Here, 46 per cent of respondents believed the ceremonies should no longer be held, while 34 per cent disagreed and 20 per cent were unsure. Among Australians over 55, support for removal was notably higher, at 59 per cent (ages 55–64) and 56 per cent (65+).
Public tensions around this issue were laid bare at the official ANZAC Day dawn service in Melbourne earlier this year, when members of the crowd reportedly booed and shouted during a Welcome to Country performance. The incident drew widespread attention and reflected a deepening discomfort with the perceived politicisation of national remembrance.
Ceremony Debate Divides Leaders
The release of the IPA’s polling coincided with newly elected Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s first National Press Club address, where she chose to begin with an Acknowledgement of Country.
“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,” Ms Ley told journalists.
Her comments signalled a break from former leader Peter Dutton, who argued that Welcome to Country ceremonies are overused.
But Daniel Wild criticised Ley’s position as being misaligned with the views of everyday Australians.
“Her stance on holding welcome to country ceremonies ‘in significant moments’ is at odds with modern Australia, with just one-third backing the practice,” he said.
According to the IPA’s findings, only 33 per cent of Australians overall believe such performances are appropriate before major events, such as sporting matches and ANZAC Day services. Even among younger Australians — often assumed to be more sympathetic to identity-based initiatives — 48 per cent said the ceremonies are divisive, more than double the 22 per cent who disagreed.
Australians Seek Shared Identity
While proponents of Welcome to Country ceremonies argue they are acts of respect, the latest poll results suggest that for many Australians, what began as an attempt at cultural inclusion is now seen as an unnecessary and even exclusionary race-based ritual.
The results show a nation increasingly resistant to top-down cultural mandates and a desire for national unity, shared identity and common values.
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Image by Brian Doyle.
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Senator Jacinta Price put it all so clearly in 2023 when she said … “Australians don’t need to be welcomed to their own country.”
Great article!!!!!!!!
Thanking God before these events would be be far more respectful 🙏
Well…if the article down below is any measure…we won’t be welcomed because we never were and we’re going to give it all back anyway.
Do I have that right?
Good grief…
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”. Psalm 24:1
It seems to me that, until not so long ago, our First People considered themselves stewards, caretakers of the land, not its owners. And they did a good job of it. Now that this Land is beeing shared, we can still learn from this good stewardship, but our acknowledgement should indeed be directed to the Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of ‘all the earth’.
It seems to me that it would be far more appropriate to begin events with the “Lords Prayer”because, as Claire mentioned, His Word in Psalm 24 declares that , “The earth is the Lords and everything in it, the world and all its people belong to Him. For He laid the earths foundations on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.” Ps 24:1–2. I’m praying that this day will soon come!
I agree with the thought that its all our country. and as someone said let’s have a welcome to the Creator of our (It belongs to all of us) country to visitors from other countries
Thank you Kurt for the thorough reserach and for showing what has hapened in our land. Its tragic the welcome to country has been used by our Prime Minister as a political weapon to try to win favour with the Indigenous people but its backfired- and our Prime Minister seems blinded to the consequences (just as he was to ‘The Voice’) but we can keep praying over this and also write in to express our concern
…My concerns are:
Firstly, we know we have seen many indigenous people disagree with the smoking ceremonies and they are speaking up against it. Some are offended also, as outsiders are being paid to do their dance and they often are not from the local tribal area, so not true representatives. ( Aboriginal identity is deeply embedded and the people have traditionally been divided into clans who own that area of land and respect their own ancestors- but they don’t agree with the idea of outsiders who come in and take payment for the welcome’ dance/ceremony)
Secondly, the smoking ceremony itself is not environmentally friendly. We are trying to reduce carbon emissions in each state and yet this ceremony pollutes the air. The Net zero goal is being undermined.
Thirdly, there is a real risk to asthma suffers and there is a risk to any with other respiratory problems so it is not a healthy practice for all to participate.
Lastly, many who have a faith background and understand the Bible in Australia, realise the practise of welcoming spirits is part of the occult, where spirits are invoked and said to be appeased. The Bible forbids these practises a(e.g King Saul went to the witch of Endor and asked for the spirit of Samuel to be called up/invoked….God had to judge the King as a result, as this was a forbidden practise)
It is unfortunate to say the least that Our Prime Minister has not sought sound wisdom on these matters. It is so very divisive which is evident in many areas – it has caused an outcry in social and political, spheres and caused offence to some clans. It’s spiritual consequences remain dangerous to our nation.
Thank you Kurt for the thorough reserach and for showing what has hapened in our land. It’s tragic the welcome to country has been used by our Prime Minister as a political weapon to try to win favour with the Indigenous people but its backfired- and our Prime Minister seems blinded to the consequences (just as he was to ‘The Voice’) but we can keep praying over this and also write in to express our concern
…My concerns are:
Firstly, we know we have seen many indigenous people disagree with the smoking ceremonies and they are speaking up against it. Some are offended also, as outsiders are being paid to do their dance and they often are not from the local tribal area, so not true representatives. ( Aboriginal identity is deeply embedded and the people have traditionally been divided into clans who own that area of land and respect their own ancestors- but they don’t agree with the idea of outsiders who come in and take payment for the welcome’ dance/ceremony)
Secondly, the smoking ceremony itself is not environmentally friendly. We are trying to reduce carbon emissions in each state and yet this ceremony pollutes the air. The Net zero goal is being undermined.
Thirdly, there is a real risk to asthma suffers and there is a risk to any with other respiratory problems so it is not a healthy practice for all to participate.
Lastly, many who have a faith background and understand the Bible in Australia, realise the practice of welcoming spirits is part of the occult, where spirits are invoked and said to be appeased. The Bible forbids these practises a(e.g King Saul went to the witch of Endor and asked for the spirit of Samuel to be called up/invoked….God had to judge the King as a result, as this was a forbidden practise)
It is unfortunate to say the least, that Our Prime Minister has not sought sound wisdom on these matters. It is so very divisive which is evident in many areas – it has caused an outcry in social and political, spheres and caused offence to some clans. It’s spiritual consequences remain dangerous to our nation.