IN BRIEF
- In Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, interruptions and jeering were reported during Welcome to Country ceremonies at dawn services.
- Indigenous leaders say Welcome to Country is an enduring cultural protocol, rejecting disruptions as divisive and misinformed.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has drawn sharp condemnation from Indigenous leaders for labelling Welcome to Country ceremonies "overused", after First Nations speakers were heckled at Anzac Day dawn services.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and veterans groups have described the disruptions as deeply disrespectful, warning they risk deepening social divisions while obfuscating the meaning of the centuries-old practice.
Larrakia Elder Richard Fejo said those responsible for heckling were "a minority … that are distastefully, but deliberately trying to use this as a tactic to create division", and rejected characterisations of the ceremonies as overdone.
"We will continue to do Welcome to Country because we'll continue to be the First Nations people of this land," Fejo told NITV News on Monday.
He also dismissed claims that the ceremonies welcomed people to Australia, as some in opposition to them have suggested, describing that as "a deliberate and intended misinformation to the public to turn people against Aboriginal people".
In Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, interruptions and jeering were reported during dawn services, with NSW Police arresting one man over what was described as an "act of nuisance".
Joseph West, chief executive of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Association, said: "ANZAC Day is defined by discipline, respect, and remembrance. Booing during any part of a commemoration falls short of those standards."
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have served in every conflict, often without recognition or equal rights, yet still stood alongside other Australians in service of the nation," West told SBS News in a statement.
Indigenous leaders say Welcome to Country ceremonies are not symbolic excess, but a longstanding cultural protocol grounded in tens of thousands of years of practice.
Taylor condemns behaviour but questions frequency
On ABC Insiders on Sunday, the Opposition leader described the booing as "un-Australian" but said he could "understand the frustration Australians feel about overuse".
"I feel that at times, often actually, I think it is overused and as a result they are devalued," Taylor said. "I would like to see them used less and therefore not devalued as I think they have been over time."
He said decisions about whether to include ceremonies should sit with event organisers, but suggested they should occur less often to retain their significance.
His comments come as cultural identity and migration are poised to be central issues in next month's by-election in the regional NSW seat of Farrer, previously held by former Liberal leader Sussan Ley.
Responding to the Opposition leader's comments, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss described Welcome to Country ceremonies as an "important protocol", and said decisions about their use should rest with Traditional Owners and event organisers.
Speaking on ABC News Breakfast on Sunday, she also welcomed the response of attendees who clapped to drown out the heckling, saying it had "reignited hope" for the relationship between First Nations people and the broader Australian community.
Australian Defence Force veteran and pastor Uncle Ray Minniecon delivered the Welcome to Country during Saturday's Anzac Day service in Sydney.
In response to the jeers, Uncle Ray told the ABC he wanted Australians to understand "this always was and always will be Aboriginal land".
"We have experienced this type of racism now for over 230 years ... what crime did we commit to attract this kind of racism and this kind of hate?
"We do have some laws in the country that try to deter people from this, but it seems like these people still want to be a little bit lawless," he said.
Political leaders condemn Anzac Day disruptions
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has joined a chorus of voices condemning the heckling as "deeply disgraceful".
"Acknowledgements to Country are just an act of respect, and what characterises today is that it is a day of respect, and to boo in that way goes completely against that," he told the ABC on Saturday.
NSW Premier Chris Minns also said he was disappointed by the jeering, calling for Anzac Day to be "treated with the respect, solemnity and reverence it deserves".
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan similarly said the scenes disrespected "everyone who fought and died for our freedoms".
"Politicising this sacred day is bastardy. I condemn it, and so should every leader."
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