Kyle Sandilands has launched a scathing rant about a particular Australian custom which he says has been “overused” and is losing its impact.
Liberal Candidate for Boothby Nicolle Flint has called out government departments for “wasting” time with multiple welcome to countries.
“This is not an appropriate use of the employee’s time who are funded by the taxpayers of Australia,” Ms Flint told Sky News host Paul Murray.
“How much time are bureaucrats wasting with multiple welcome to countries and doing things like taking their shoes off as well?”
The comments came on the Kyle and Jackie O Show after the first game of the 2024 Men’s State of Origin Series at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Wednesday night.
The pre-game entertainment saw 21-year-old Savannah Fynn, donned in a Blues scarf, acknowledge the traditional owners of the land before adding “may the best team win”.
Sandilands, 52, weighed in on the Welcome to Country which has become commonplace at many major events across sports, politics and more.
Kyle Sandilands has criticised the use of Welcome to Country. Picture: The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
“You know what I’ve been noticing? People are s***canning the Welcome to Country because it’s overused and it’s lost its impact,” he said on Thursday’s show.
“People get annoyed now rather than being immersed into the culture and making it feel spiritually aware, people now don’t like having the smoke waved and everyone dancing.
“I feel that’s sad because it’s so overused, it’s pathetic.
“You can’t go to the shopping centre without someone welcoming you to country as you walk into Westfield. It’s overused and it needs to dial back a bit.”
The national anthem was sung before game one of the 2024 Men’s State of Origin Series. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty.
The radio host went on to say a Welcome to Country should provoke “emotional and spiritual” feelings.
“It’s lost its powerful meaning. A Welcome to Country from the Indigenous folks who live here, that have always lived here, should be an extremely powerful, emotional and spiritual feeling,” he said.
“But when you see it on the plane at Qantas … they’ve done the wrong thing here.”
His co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson agreed the practice loses its meaning when companies feel they have to do it.
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It comes as the use of the Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country have come under increasing scrutiny due to their increased use.
Queensland public servants were reportedly taken aback when a bizarre request was made during a Welcome to Country at a recent event.
According to the Courier Mail, staff with the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General were asked to “take their shoes off, wiggle their toes and close their eyes so they would feel more connected to the Earth”.
Ms Fynn’s Welcome to Country on Wednesday night was followed by Australian Idol winner Dylan Wright’s rendition of Advance Australia Fair.
The singer took to the stage to perform a country rendition of the national anthem, which divided opinion, with Melbourne singer-songwriter Ash Archer urging Wright to “stick to the melody”.