Sports · Football · 2 hrs ago
Warren Mundine calls for Welcome to Country ceremonies to leave sporting events
Sections of the crowd booed Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jr as he delivered a Welcome to Country before the Australia Cup final in Melbourne.
Indigenous leader Warren Mundine said the ceremony should not be used at sporting events.
He said repeated use in settings such as meetings and flights had made a gesture meant to bring people together divisive.
Mundine also argued that some speakers had used ceremonies to promote their own political views.
He said Welcome to Country ceremonies were suitable for major formal occasions, such as an international conference bringing visitors to Australia.
For international sports fixtures, he said flags and both countries’ anthems should be enough before play.
He urged sporting administrators and national leaders to focus on bringing Australians together and said he expected the booing to happen more often.
Warren Mundine has called for Welcome to Country ceremonies to be removed from sporting events.
His comments followed the booing of Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jr before the Australia Cup final in Melbourne.
Mundine said repeated use of the ceremonies had made a gesture intended to bring Australians together divisive.
He said they should be reserved for major formal occasions, such as international conferences.
- Who
- Warren Mundine called for the change. Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jr was booed at the match.
- What
- Mundine said Welcome to Country ceremonies should be removed from sporting events and used only at major formal occasions.
- When
- Mundine made the comments after the Australia Cup final on Saturday night.
- Where
- The final was held at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
- Why
- Mundine said overuse had made the ceremonies divisive and that some people used them to promote political views.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
To be quite honest, yes.
People are sick of it, quite frankly. And I’m sick of it as well.
Something that was gonna bring us together... is now dividing us.
Uncle Colin Hunter Jr was booed while delivering a Welcome to Country before the Australia Cup final at AAMI Park.
Mundine called for the ceremonies to be removed from sporting events.
- Speaker
- Warren Mundine
- Ceremony speaker
- Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jr
- Venue
- AAMI Park, Melbourne
- Match
- Australia Cup final between South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory
- Attendance
- 29,911
- Result
- South Melbourne won 4–3 on penalties
Sources
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