Welcome to Country ‘has real impact on belonging and inclusion’ in workplaces

The discourse around the inclusion of Welcome to Country speeches cast a cloud over the Anzac Day long weekend, leading to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton labelling the cultural practice as “overdone”.

The Anzac Day long weekend was shrouded in uproar and controversy over the inclusion of a “Welcome to Country” speech at the beginning of a dawn service held in Melbourne, which was interrupted with boos and jeers by spectators – including known neo-Nazis.

As the topic persisted over the weekend, reactions and opinions from the Australian public varied, with many labelling the acts of the hecklers at the dawn service as “disgusting” while others supported the sentiment, calling for an end to the cultural practice altogether.

This spurred the question to be posed to both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who shared their views on the continuation and situational use of the Welcome to Country.

Dutton condemned the actions of the hecklers on Anzac Day; however, he labelled the practice as “overdone”, stating that it was not needed at sporting events or workplaces.

“For the opening of Parliament, fair enough, it is respectful to do, but for the start of every meeting at work, or the start of a football game, I think other Australians think it is overdone and cheapens the significance of what it was meant to do,” Dutton said via The Guardian.

Albanese put the onus on individual organisations to decide whether they wanted to include a Welcome to Country, noting that they are often used as a “matter of respect”.

Karlie Cremin, workplace inclusion expert and managing director of DLPA, spoke on Dutton’s remarks and how a Welcome to Country can bring numerous benefits to the workplace.

“Welcomes and acknowledgements of country should be genuine acts of respect. It is not a trivial topic that should be used as a political football,” said Cremin.

“Calling cultural recognition ‘overdone’ risks framing inclusion as something excessive when really it’s about showing respect for First Nations peoples on whose land we live and work.”

“This is not about mandating what every workplace or footy game should do. It is about allowing organisations and individuals to choose respectful practices that reflect their values.”

When it comes to building inclusive and culturally aware workplaces, Cremin argued that welcomes and acknowledgments can be pivotal foundations of garnering that respect.

“When done with sincerity, these practices help organisations signal that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures are seen, respected and valued. That sense of recognition has a real impact on belonging and inclusion,” said Cremin.

“Employees have told us that hearing an acknowledgement at the start of a meeting makes them feel prouder of their workplace. It shows leadership that is mindful, inclusive and willing to engage meaningfully with Australia’s history.”

Cremin claimed that the framing of this cultural practice as a divisive action instead of a unifying moment undermines efforts to build social cohesion and respect not only within the Australian workplace but also in society as a whole.

“We have seen throughout history how targeting cultural practices as divisive is a slippery slope. The tone of this conversation matters, especially when it is led by someone who could soon be prime minister,” said Cremin.

“To reduce a gesture of cultural respect to a campaign talking point is, in my view, opportunistic, in poor taste, and deliberately inflammatory.”