Taxpayers billed almost $500,000 for Welcome to Country ceremonies
New data reveals the cost of Welcome to Country ceremonies at Australian government events.
Australian taxpayers have spent nearly half a million dollars on Welcome to Country ceremonies at official government events over the past two financial years, sparking debate about the use of public funds.
Documents obtained through Freedom of Information by opposition spokesman James Stevens reveal that $452,953 was spent on Welcome to Country ceremonies between 2022 and 2024.
The Australian government has wasted more than $450,000 on Welcome to Country ceremonies at events in the last two years.
— Kobie Thatcher (@KobieThatcher) January 5, 2025
This nonsense needs to end.
This is our country as much as theirs. We don't need to be welcomed to it.
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet accounted for $41,801 of this total, hosting 33 ceremonies at an average cost of $1,266 each. With these ceremonies lasting five to 15 minutes, the expenditure equates to approximately $100 per minute.
Stevens criticised the spending, stating, “While there is a place for traditional Welcome to Country ceremonies, taxpayers should not be forking out half a million dollars for them. When added to the enormous amounts state and local governments spend on these ceremonies, it’s become a multimillion-dollar industry.”
“Welcomes to Country should be genuine and authentic, not a lucrative income stream at the taxpayers’ expense. This money could be better spent on delivering real solutions to indigenous communities.”
Every time I hear the Welcome to Country 🤮🤮🤮 I think of @TuckerCarlson’s words.
— Valerie💐 (@AussieVal10) September 15, 2024
He was here only for 2 weeks but summed up the dog’s breakfast situation perfectly. pic.twitter.com/81HD3IorwO
The Albanese government has defended the ceremonies, describing them as a way to “demonstrate respect” to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The National Indigenous Australians Agency described the ceremonies as “a mark of respect for First Nations peoples” that provide “safe passage” and “spiritual safety” for visitors.
The Department of Home Affairs has already planned future Welcome to Country ceremonies as part of its 2023-2026 strategy for “days of significance,” major meetings, and award events.
🇦🇺 Should taxpayers be coughing up for Welcome to Countries?
— Katherine Deves Morgan 🇦🇺🚺 (@deves_katherine) January 5, 2025
We’ve stumped up $450K over the last two years https://t.co/JquIAtSlm2 pic.twitter.com/GOFyJnX4lW
The opposition’s criticism extends to broader national identity debates. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton recently announced plans to remove Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags from press conferences if elected, arguing they are “not our national flags.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed Dutton’s stance, stating, “It costs nothing to show respect.” Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy accused Dutton of trying to “divide Australians.”
