One Nation has reignited debate over Indigenous ceremonial practices after its senators turned their backs during the Acknowledgement of Country at the formal opening of the 48th Parliament. Senator Malcolm Roberts and his party defended the protest as a principled stand against what they see as a divisive and overused ritual.
On his official website, Senator Roberts described the gesture as a rejection of the daily repetition of Acknowledgements and Welcome to Country ceremonies across Australian institutions. He argued that while these practices may have once had symbolic value, they have since become politicised and serve to divide Australians along racial lines rather than unite them. Roberts asserted that the tradition now functions more as virtue signalling than genuine reconciliation, and claimed that Australians are being “guilted” into submission to a narrow ideological agenda.
The protest gained further traction through a Facebook post by One Nation, which claimed:
“One Nation is saying what we’re all thinking: Welcome to Country has worn out its welcome.… We are all sick of being welcomed to our own country.”
This message sparked both widespread support and sharp condemnation. Supporters praised the party for speaking out against what they see as performative displays of identity politics, while critics accused One Nation of undermining national reconciliation efforts and disrespecting Indigenous Australians.
The controversy hinges on a distinction that is often misunderstood: Welcome to Country is a traditional ceremony performed by Indigenous Elders, while Acknowledgement of Country is a gesture made by non-Indigenous Australians to show respect. One Nation appears to conflate the two in its messaging, calling for both to be dropped from public proceedings.
Senator Roberts insists that Australians are “sick of being divided by race” and says the party’s action was not an attack on Indigenous people, but a stand for equality and national unity. He argues that real respect for Indigenous Australians will come from improving outcomes, not ceremonial words.
While many Australians value these ceremonies as important acts of recognition, One Nation’s protest highlights ongoing tensions over identity, history, and the role of symbolism in public life. Whether the move strengthens One Nation’s base or isolates it from mainstream voters remains to be seen—but it has undeniably put the debate back in the spotlight.
Read more from Malcolm Roberts’ site and One Nation’s Facebook.
