Ex-PM Tony Abbott weighs in on welcome to country debate
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has said that what happened on January 26, 1788 was “wonderful” in an interview denouncing welcome to country ceremonies.
Mr Abbott shared that he has a “fundamental problem” with welcome to country ceremonies and acknowledgements of country in an interview with Ben Fordham on 2GB radio, and believes they are an “exercise in virtue signalling” akin to wearing masks during the Covid pandemic.
“It’s become a badge of political correctness,” he said.
“It’s become a political statement – a bit like wearing masks became a political statement during the pandemic.”
The former prime minister said he has taken issue with the practice ever since it started on Qantas and Virgin flights.
“I’ve found the notion of having country acknowledged when you land in Melbourne or Sydney or Brisbane, absolutely grating,” he said.
2GB listener Vicki agreed with Mr Abbott, texting in: “last night, MasterChef did an acknowledgement or a welcome to country to kick off the show.
“This is a cooking show. Really?” she said.
Mr Abbott went on to say that he thinks what happened on January 26, 1788 was wonderful and “the beginning of the great country that we know as Australia”.
“It was the eruption of the modern onto an ancient continent. It’s something to be celebrated,” he added.
More to come