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• Senators voice opposition to the Recognition of Country

Three members of the One Nation party faced away during the Acknowledgement of Country on the first day of the spring parliamentary session.

Queensland Senator Malcolm Roberts, New South Wales Senator Sean Bell and Western AustraliaSenator Tyron Whitten turned his back as DeputySenateSenator President Slade Brockman made the Acknowledgement of Country in the Senate chamber.

The group reversed direction as the Senate commenced the Lord’s Prayer.

Every session day in the Senate starts with an Acknowledgement of Country, then the Lord’s Prayer is recited before official parliamentary proceedings begin.

One Nation leader Pauline Hansonwas not present in the room at that moment.

Last week, Hanson informed News24 presenter Paul Murray that she planned to eliminate Welcome to Country rituals in schools, government agencies, and official functions.

During the interview, a voter questioned Hanson about whether she would eliminate the practice in schools due to worries regarding the content being taught within the education system.

“I don’t believe in having Welcome to Country… in government departments, I wouldn’t have a Welcome to Country,” Hanson stated.

I wouldn’t allow it in schools or the education system. I’d shut everything down, and I’ll add something else—there won’t be three flags.

Hanson has consistently stood by her disagreement with Acknowledgements of Country and Welcome to Country rituals.

In response to criticism following a comparable demonstration in Parliament last year, Hanson mentioned that numerous Australians had become impatient with the practice.

“They’re fed up with feeling like they don’t belong. They’re tired of superficial traditions forced into every meeting, every ceremony, every public gathering, while serious matters such as the rising cost of living and housing are ignored,” Hanson said.

These controversial acts no longer focus on respect. They have turned into a political ritual that creates division instead of unity.

In an interview with News24 host Chris Kenny in 2025, Hanson mentioned that she had been facing away during the Acknowledgement of Country for three years and that other One Nation senators agreed with her perspective.

“I didn’t just do it recently… I have been doing it for the last three years,” Hanson stated.

They’ve had enough of the Welcome to Parliament routine on the parliamentary floor each morning, as well as across the country.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, criticized the senators’ behavior at that moment, calling it an ‘extremely immature act’.

In the Senate, McCarthy claimed that the One Nation senators were intentionally showing disrespect toward Indigenous Australians.

“These senators are not obligated to be present in the Senate for the Acknowledgement of Country,” she stated.

In reality, they were not involved before, but they are now, regardless of whether it is for gaining attention or creating sensational content, whether it is to provoke outrage, or whether it is to fuel conflict, these senators have consciously chosen to show disrespect towards Indigenous Australians.

McCarthy also encouraged senators to engage in discussions with respect, irrespective of their political disagreements.

I call on all senators to recall the people you collaborate with, the individuals you walk alongside, and even when our opinions differ, we have a chamber where discussions can take place with much greater respect than what has been observed in recent days.

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