Coalition Seeks to Reduce Spending on ‘Welcome to Country’ Ceremony
Shadow Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price stated that the proposal is part of a broader strategy to evaluate government expenditure.
The newly appointed Shadow Minister for Government Efficiency in the Coalition, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, has pledged to review federal spending on Welcome to Country ceremonies as part of a larger plan to address what she perceives as the Albanese government’s “reckless” spending.
Her remarks follow the release of new data showing that almost half a million dollars were spent on these ceremonies over two years.
“If the Coalition wins the next election, we will put a stop to this wastage and ensure that our spending aligns with the priorities of everyday Australians,” Price told The Epoch Times.
Price argued that the government should prioritize practical outcomes over symbolic gestures, citing the $450 million spent on the Voice referendum as an example of wasteful spending.
Price’s Criticism of Labor’s Wasteful Spending
Price’s comments were made shortly after her appointment as the Shadow Minister for Government Efficiency within the Coalition.
She criticized the inefficient spending of the Albanese government, pointing to a $347 billion increase in government spending since Labor took office.
“Australia has seen a significant amount of government waste under the Albanese Labor government,” she said.
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Price pointed out several other instances, such as the substantial spending on the Voice referendum, the ineffective role of the First Nations Ambassador, and the creation of 36,000 new public service roles in Canberra.
Labor’s Defense of Spending on Welcome to Country Ceremonies
Recently, the Albanese Labor government defended its investment in Aboriginal Welcome to Country ceremonies, dismissing the opposition’s critique as an attempt to incite a “culture war.”
These ceremonies, performed by Indigenous groups at the start of formal events, typically include singing, dancing, smoking ceremonies, or speeches.
When asked for a response, the Prime Minister’s office referred to previous statements by Mark Butler, the Minister for Health, who accused the opposition of prioritizing culture wars over addressing inflation and the financial pressures faced by households.
FOI Data Shows Rising Costs for Ceremonies
Freedom of Information (FOI) records obtained by Shadow Government Waste Reduction Spokesman James Stevens revealed that government agencies spent $452,953 on Welcome to Country ceremonies during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 fiscal years.
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet alone dedicated $41,801 to 33 such ceremonies.
Each ceremony costs an average of $1,266 and lasts approximately 5 to 15 minutes, resulting in around $100 per minute for an Aboriginal representative.
Stevens criticized this spending, stating that “while traditional Welcome to Country ceremonies have their place, taxpayers should not be footing a half-million-dollar bill for them.”
He also noted that when combined with the spending by state and local governments, the total cost of these ceremonies is quickly approaching a multimillion-dollar industry.
