One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has unveiled a new education platform centred on patriotism, national identity and Australian history, arguing that schools should encourage students to take pride in their country rather than apologise for its past.

The proposal forms part of a broader cultural agenda that Hanson says would restore what she considers a stronger sense of national unity if One Nation were elected to government.

In a statement released by the party, Hanson said Australian schools should promote patriotism and encourage young Australians to appreciate the nation’s history, institutions and heritage.

“We will not apologise for our history. We are one of the greatest countries on Earth, and we will be proud of it,” the party said in outlining the proposed policy.

One Nation argues that many schools have increasingly presented Australian history through what it describes as an excessively negative lens.

The party claims students are too often encouraged to focus on historical injustices without giving equal attention to Australia’s democratic institutions, economic achievements, military service, scientific advances and multicultural success.

As part of its education agenda, Hanson said what she described as “self-hatred” would be removed from classrooms and replaced with teaching that promotes national pride and civic responsibility.

Perhaps the most controversial element of the proposal is One Nation’s commitment to abolish both Welcome to Country ceremonies and Acknowledgement of Country practices in government schools.

Hanson argues that ceremonies originally intended as respectful gestures have gradually evolved into routine requirements that no longer unite Australians.

“Every school morning, every government meeting, every public event… another Welcome to Country,” Hanson said while arguing that the practice has become excessive and unnecessarily divisive.

Welcome to Country is a formal cultural protocol performed by a Traditional Owner of the land to welcome visitors onto Country.

Acknowledgement of Country is a separate practice that can be delivered by anyone to recognise Traditional Owners and their continuing connection to the land.

Over the past two decades both ceremonies have become increasingly common at schools, universities, government events, sporting fixtures and major public ceremonies throughout Australia.

Supporters say the practices recognise the history and continuing cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples while promoting respect and reconciliation.

One Nation takes a different view.

The party argues that no Australian’s heritage should be elevated above another’s and says all citizens should be treated equally regardless of ancestry.

According to Hanson, Australia belongs to every citizen, and public institutions should emphasise shared national identity rather than separate cultural identities.

“This is everyone’s country, and it’s time we started acting like it,” the party said.

The proposal expands on several cultural policies Hanson has promoted in recent years.

Earlier this week she announced that, if One Nation formed government, eliminating Welcome to Country ceremonies across schools, government departments and many publicly funded events would be among the party’s priorities during its first 100 days in office.

She has also argued that public institutions should display only the Australian national flag rather than multiple official flags during official ceremonies.

One Nation says its education reforms would also seek to strengthen civics education, encourage greater understanding of Australia’s constitutional system and increase teaching about the country’s military history, democratic traditions and national achievements.

The party believes schools should help foster social cohesion by reinforcing a common Australian identity that transcends ethnic or cultural backgrounds.

Critics, however, argue that the proposal risks diminishing recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture.

Indigenous organisations have long maintained that Welcome to Country ceremonies are voluntary expressions of respect performed by Traditional Owners and play an important role in acknowledging Australia’s First Peoples.

Many education experts also argue that teaching both Indigenous history and the broader national story are complementary rather than competing objectives.

Political opponents likewise contend that understanding Australia’s colonial history, including the experiences of Indigenous Australians, is an important part of providing students with a balanced education.

They argue that encouraging students to examine difficult chapters of history does not prevent them from also taking pride in Australia’s democratic institutions, multicultural society and international achievements.

These differing perspectives have become increasingly prominent in national political debate in recent years.

The debate over Welcome to Country ceremonies has extended beyond schools.

Some sporting organisations, local councils and government agencies have expanded their use of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country during official events, while others have reduced or reviewed the practice following public discussion about how frequently they should occur.

The issue has become one of the most visible cultural dividing lines in contemporary Australian politics.

For Hanson, the proposal is intended to reinforce One Nation’s longstanding emphasis on Australian nationalism and civic unity.

Since the party’s establishment in the 1990s, opposition to multiculturalism, criticism of what it describes as identity politics and calls for stronger national identity have remained central themes of One Nation’s platform.

Whether the education proposal ultimately gains wider political support remains uncertain.

Neither Labor nor the Coalition has indicated support for removing Welcome to Country ceremonies from schools nationwide, and any significant changes to state education systems would likely require cooperation between federal and state governments.

Nevertheless, the announcement ensures that questions surrounding Australian identity, national history and the place of Indigenous recognition in public life will remain prominent issues as political parties prepare for future election campaigns.