One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has announced that her party would abolish Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies across public schools, government departments and official government events if it formed government, placing the issue firmly at the centre of Australia’s ongoing debate over national identity and Indigenous recognition.

Speaking during News24’s Paul Murray Live: Please Explain special event, Senator Hanson said she believed the ceremonies had become overused and should no longer be conducted in government institutions or public education.

“I do not believe in having Welcome to Country,” Hanson said.

“I wouldn’t be having it in government departments. I wouldn’t be having it in the educational system or schools. I’d shut that all down, and I’ll tell you another thing too, there won’t be three flags.”

Hanson also revealed that every One Nation senator turns their back during the Welcome to Country conducted before Senate proceedings begin each sitting day, saying the gesture reflects the party’s long-held opposition to the practice.

“That’s how I feel about it. My actions speak louder than words sometimes, so I’m prepared to do it myself,” she said.

The announcement forms part of One Nation’s broader cultural and constitutional agenda ahead of the next federal election, with the party arguing that official ceremonies recognising Traditional Owners have expanded well beyond their original purpose and now contribute to division rather than national unity.

Hanson nevertheless acknowledged there would be limits to any future government’s authority.

She said private businesses, sporting organisations and community groups would remain free to conduct Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies if they wished, with the proposed policy applying only to government-controlled institutions and publicly funded education.

The proposal places One Nation at the opposite end of the political spectrum from the Albanese Government.

Labor’s draft platform for its 2026 National Conference formally reaffirms support for Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies, describing them as important opportunities to demonstrate respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The draft platform also recommits the party to the principles of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Closing the Gap initiatives, truth-telling processes, self-determination, Native Title and Indigenous land rights.

The Coalition has adopted a more nuanced position.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has stopped short of calling for an outright ban but has argued the ceremonies have become too frequent.

Earlier this year, Taylor said Welcome to Country ceremonies had become “overdone”, suggesting their increasing use risked diminishing their original significance.

“It’s not serving the purpose that they were designed for in the first place if they’re overused and devalued,” he said.

The debate surrounding Welcome to Country has intensified considerably since the defeat of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum in 2023.

Conservative politicians have increasingly questioned how frequently the ceremonies are conducted, while supporters argue they remain an important expression of respect for Australia’s First Nations peoples and recognition of the continuing connection between Indigenous communities and Country.

A Welcome to Country is traditionally delivered by an Elder or authorised representative of the Traditional Owners of the land on which an event is taking place. It formally welcomes visitors onto Country and has been incorporated into many government, educational and corporate events across Australia over recent decades.

An Acknowledgement of Country differs in that it can be delivered by any person, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, and recognises the Traditional Custodians without requiring an Elder to be present.

Supporters argue these ceremonies promote reconciliation, acknowledge Australia’s Indigenous history and foster greater understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Critics, however, contend that their widespread use has become symbolic rather than meaningful and, in some settings, risks losing the cultural significance they were originally intended to convey.

Public opinion appears increasingly divided.

An April poll commissioned by the Institute of Public Affairs found that 60 per cent of respondents believed Welcome to Country ceremonies had become divisive overall. The same survey found 60 per cent opposed conducting the ceremonies before major sporting events.

While polling commissioned by advocacy organisations has produced different results depending on methodology and question wording, recent surveys suggest attitudes toward the ceremonies have become increasingly polarised across the Australian community.

For One Nation, the proposal aligns with a broader platform centred on reducing what the party describes as symbolic identity politics within government institutions.

In recent months Hanson has advocated policies including reducing immigration, removing Net Zero emissions targets, reforming public broadcasters, tightening national security laws and opposing a range of initiatives linked to multiculturalism and Indigenous recognition.

Supporters of Hanson’s proposal argue government institutions should focus on delivering public services rather than conducting ceremonial acknowledgements they believe have become routine and performative.

They contend the ceremonies should remain voluntary cultural practices rather than expected components of official government business.

Opponents reject that argument, maintaining that Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country are important acts of respect that recognise Australia’s First Nations peoples without diminishing the rights or identity of other Australians.

Many Indigenous leaders have previously argued the ceremonies help educate Australians about the country’s history and encourage greater recognition of Indigenous culture within public life.

The issue has increasingly become part of Australia’s broader “culture wars”, alongside debates over constitutional recognition, school curricula, Australia Day and national identity.

Political analysts note that these issues resonate strongly with sections of the electorate dissatisfied with mainstream political parties and have become central themes in One Nation’s electoral strategy.

Whether the proposal ultimately becomes law remains highly uncertain.

One Nation does not hold enough parliamentary seats to implement the policy independently and would require significant support from other parties to pass legislation affecting federal government practices.

Education policy would present an additional challenge, as Australia’s school system is shared between the Commonwealth and state governments, meaning any nationwide prohibition would require extensive cooperation across multiple jurisdictions.

Even so, Hanson’s announcement ensures the debate over Welcome to Country ceremonies is likely to remain a prominent issue in Australian politics as parties continue outlining their competing visions for national identity, reconciliation and the role of Indigenous recognition in public life ahead of the next federal election.