Debate Erupts Over AFL Welcome to Country Ceremony

A Welcome to Country ceremony performed by Aboriginal Elder Brendan Kerin before the AFL semi-final has sparked significant debate in Australia, particularly from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who has reiterated her call to ban the practice. Kerin emphasized that the ceremony is not meant to welcome Australians to their own country but rather acknowledges the specific Aboriginal lands being gathered upon. His comments drew mixed reactions, with some supporting his stance and others, including media figures like Andrew Bolt, criticizing the ceremony as racially divisive and an insult to Australian identity. Hanson argued that Australians are 'sick and tired' of these ceremonies, claiming they deny citizenship and sovereignty to all Australians. This controversy follows the recent rejection of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, which Hanson linked to ongoing debates about cultural recognition. The discussion reflects broader tensions surrounding Indigenous rights and national identity in Australia.