Backlash erupts over Pauline Hanson’s Acknowledgement of Country stunt in Parliament – so do her critics have a point?

A group of senators who turned their backs during an Acknowledgement of Country inside the federal Parliament have been described as childish.

The four One Nation senators protested in the chamber when the statement of respect for Indigenous Australians was read out as part of the traditional ceremonial opening of Parliament on Tuesday.

Labor Cabinet minister Clare O’Neil lashed the Pauline Hanson-led party, saying it was disappointing their action became a point of focus, despite the shows of unity earlier in the day during Welcome to Country ceremonies.

‘It was disrespectful and rude and childish,’ she said.

The Housing Minister argued the opening of Parliament was about celebrating Australia’s democracy and representing its citizens.

But Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie defended the right of her colleagues to express a different view, comparing One Nation’s silent protest to politicians who walk out of the chamber during the morning prayers and those who don’t support the monarchy.

‘The problem in a liberal democracy like ours is when we can’t express different views,’ she told Sunrise.

The four One Nation politicians, including Senator Pauline Hanson, turned their backs in the Senate chamber when the Acknowledgment of country was read out in Parliament

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has claimed Acknowledgement of Country is ‘divisive’ and ‘increasingly forced’. 

‘We took this stand because we’re listening to Australians, hardworking, decent people who are sick of being lectured to in their own country,’ she said.

‘They’re tired of being made to feel like outsiders. Tired of tokenistic rituals shoved into every meeting, every ceremony, every public event, while real issues like the cost of living and housing are brushed aside. 

‘There were at least three acknowledgements performed in Parliament today that I’m aware of. These divisive performances aren’t about respect anymore. They’ve become a political routine that divides rather than unites.’

But Ms O’Neil said the party still should have treated all Australians with respect.

‘Whatever your views about the Welcome to Country – we’ve got First Nations people who have been invited to come to parliament, to extend that hand of friendship and invite us and talk about 65,000 years of heritage that they bring to our beautiful, great country,’ she said.

‘To treat people that way on the first day of parliament, I think, it was absolutely appalling.’

Welcome to Country ceremonies and land acknowledgements have been at the centre of a right-wing culture war after a group of neo-Nazis booed a Welcome to Country address during an Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne earlier in 2025.

Labor has backed Welcome to Country ceremonies, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday celebrating the tradition as a powerful way to begin the new parliament and reflect on Australia’s history.

Mr Albanese also took a veiled swipe at the stance of former opposition leader Peter Dutton and some coalition MPs who branded Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country proclamations as divisive and overdone.

‘Like a lot of the more positive things about our nation, we shouldn’t take it for granted,’ Mr Albanese said, adding the ceremony was not controversial.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the ceremony ‘set the tone as we re-commit ourselves to the taking of practical action to improve lives and expand opportunity for Indigenous Australians in every part of our great country’.

Welcome to Country is conducted by Traditional Owners, while Acknowledgement of Country is a statement of respect for Traditional Owners and connection to land, which can be given by an Indigenous or non-Indigenous person.