“Australians have had an absolute gutful of divisive and pointless welcome to country ceremonies, with only one-third saying they want the ceremonies performed before major events such as ANZAC Day and sporting matches,” said Daniel Wild, Deputy Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs.
Today, the IPA has released new polling data, compiled by independent marketing research firm Dynata, which shows:
- 56 per cent of Australians feel welcome to country ceremonies have become divisive, while only 17 per cent disagree (27 per cent were unsure).
- 48 per cent of those aged 18-24 agree, more than double those who disagree at 22 per cent.
- 49 per cent of Australians want welcome to country ceremonies to no longer be performed before sporting matches, only 30 per cent want the practice continued (21 per cent were unsure).
- 40 per cent of those aged 18-24 want the practice stopped, and 41 per cent want it continued.
- 46 per cent of Australians want welcome to country ceremonies to no longer be performed at ANZAC Day ceremonies, while only 34 per cent want the practice continued (20 per cent were unsure).
- 41 per cent of those aged 18-24 want the practice stopped, and 42 per cent want it continued.
The polling results follows the new federal opposition leader Sussan Ley opening her National Press Club address with an acknowledgement of country, and Ley’s insistence that the acknowledgement of country be performed “in significant moments.”
“Not only did Ms Ley fail to state who the purported traditional owners of the National Press Club are, but her stance on holding welcome to country ceremonies ‘in significant moments’ is at odds with modern Australia, with just one-third backing the practice,” Mr Wild said.
“Even younger Australians, who the political class insist are left-wing and woke, by a two-to-one margin believe welcome to country performances are divisive. And they are evenly split on the performances at sporting events and ANZAC Day ceremonies, further underscoring how divisive it is.”
The research also suggests Australians are on the side of Melbourne street sweeper Shaun Turner, who was unfairly sacked by his employer, the City of Darebin, for objecting to an acknowledgement of country before a weekly staff meeting.
“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,” Mr Wild said.
“The councillors at Darebin should be put in the bin at the next election for seeking to divide the community and for sacking a hard-working Australian for standing up for his values.”
“Australia would be a better place with more street sweepers and fewer jumped-up, out-of-touch, woke councillors,” Mr Wild said.
To download the IPA’s research click here.
