MEDIA RELEASE | 28 April 2025
Politicians’ attacks on Welcome to Country inflame racism against First Nations people
National racial justice organisation Democracy in Colour has slammed politicians for attempting to court and placate racists with their ongoing criticism of Welcome to Country ceremonies, distracting from the real issues that should be at the forefront of this election.
Democracy in Colour national director Noura Mansour says: “While political leaders rightly condemned the offensive disruption of a Welcome to Country ceremony in Melbourne on Anzac Day, in the days since, we have seen politicians echo these far-right attacks on First Nations people. We should all reject the message of neo-Nazi agitators but instead politicians are amplifying them.”
Hours after Bunurong man Uncle Mark Brown was booed and heckled at the Anzac Day dawn service, Melbourne Storm told Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin that her Welcome to Country at Friday’s NRL match was cancelled.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton then threw his voice behind the critics, saying in Sunday night’s debate that Welcome to Country ceremonies were “overdone”. He doubled down on Monday, telling a press conference that Welcome to Country was not warranted at Anzac Day events.
“Democracy in Colour is united in our solidarity with the Wurundjeri people and all First Nations people on this continent who are facing vicious, organised attacks from white supremacist networks. These attacks are a direct attack on truth-telling and a clear attempt to silence the history of First Nations people, their identity and culture,” Mansour said.
“This election campaign has been bookended by racist dog whistles specifically targeted at First Nations people and migrants. There has been a distinct lack of attention on First Nations issues this election, but no lack of backtracking and divisive talking points.
“If our leaders truly condemn these acts, then they need to stop giving these hateful views so much oxygen and focus on their proposed policies that will have a real impact on people’s lives and benefit the country moving forward.
“Rather than debate genuine policy proposals that could benefit everyone, we are seeing a last-ditch effort to attack and divide people for political gain. This election Democracy in Colour has been calling on political candidates to take a pledge to get racism out of politics. It’s disheartening to see that with less than a week to go, racism remains Dutton’s only answer to the serious issues facing this country.”