A furious dad has sparked a heated debate after a Welcome to Country ceremony was performed before his son’s Little Athletics session in Sydney.
The ceremony, which is typically conducted by Indigenous Australians to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, was led by non-Indigenous coaches, leaving some parents and kids feeling confused and uncomfortable.
What Happened at Inner West Little Athletics?
According to James, the dad who spoke out against the ceremony, the kids were “rounded up” to watch the coaches perform the Welcome to Country.
He claimed that the ceremony was unnecessary and felt like it was being done just for the sake of it.
“To do it every session now – I’m thinking, ‘are we going down the wrong path here?’ It’s just a bit too much,” he said.
The Cost of Welcome to Country Ceremonies
But here’s the thing: these ceremonies aren’t cheap. In fact, they’ve cost taxpayers $452,953 across 21 government departments over the past two financial years.
That’s an average of $1,266 per ceremony. Some departments have spent tens of thousands of dollars on these events, raising questions about whether they’re a worthwhile use of taxpayer money.
Is it Time to Reassess the Tradition?
Marty Romer, an Aboriginal man and life member of Emu Plains Athletics Club, agrees that the ubiquity of Welcome to Country ceremonies is diluting their meaning.
“To me, it’s something that doesn’t need to be done unless it’s on a special occasion, not every time you step onto a sporting field,” he said. Perhaps it’s time to reassess the tradition and reserve these ceremonies for special occasions, rather than making them a routine part of everyday events.
The Politics of Welcome to Country Ceremonies
The debate has also sparked a political response, with Indigenous Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price saying that the Coalition would axe federal funding for the ceremonies if they win the upcoming federal election.
Opposition government waste spokesman James Stevens has also weighed in, saying that while there’s a place for these ceremonies, they’ve become a “multimillion-dollar industry” that’s not addressing the real challenges facing Indigenous Australians.
What do you think? Have Welcome to Country ceremonies gone too far?
Should they be reserved for special occasions or abolished altogether?
Share your thoughts in the comments!