Kyle Sandilands has again stirred discussion around Welcome to Country ceremonies, as the conversation intensifies in the lead-up to the Federal Election.
Speaking on his KIIS FM host breakfast show on Monday, The Kyle & Jackie O Show, Sandilands urged Australians to focus more attention on pressing issues affecting First Nations communities, particularly domestic violence rates, rather than the ceremony’s frequent use.
Referencing a Daily Mail Australia poll, which found 90 per cent of nearly 8,000 respondents did not support a Welcome to Country at Anzac Day services, he questioned why political leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, were not being asked about domestic violence issues within Indigenous communities.
“This is what p***es me off about this election and this whole country. We all think things and no one ever says anything,” he said.
The radio host continued: “Why isn’t anyone going to ask the Prime Minister what he’s going to do about the huge domestic violence problem in Aboriginal communities? That’s their problem. I speak to Aborigines. I’ve got family that are living in those communities. That’s their big issue.”
When pressed on clarification, Sandilands emphasised that while he values Welcome to Country ceremonies, he believes they should be reserved for major events rather than becoming a routine occurrence, such as at Zoom meetings.
“I just think it should be something big and should be done as a beautiful experience for people to enjoy. I know there were some people booing at the Anzac parade. All I read about that was “neo-Nazis” were doing it,” he said.
Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and Kyle Sandilands have been working together in breeakfast radio for more than 20 years.
Anzac Day incident sparks outrage
Sandilands’ comments come amid renewed controversy after a Welcome to Country at Melbourne’s Anzac Day dawn service was disrupted by hecklers.
A small group, reportedly linked to neo-Nazi figure Jacob Hersant and the National Socialist Network, booed and shouted through Bunurong elder Mark Brown’s address.
The incident drew swift condemnation across the political spectrum.
Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner, who later acknowledged Aboriginal Australians in her speech, was also heckled. Hersant was seen engaging in a heated exchange with a reporter, claiming Anzac Day should exclude Indigenous acknowledgements.
Earlier that day, thousands of Australians had gathered before dawn to pay tribute to fallen soldiers, making the disruption particularly jarring.
Leaders response to ceremony debate
Prime Minister Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, were asked to address the controversy during the final leaders’ debate, hosted by Channel Seven’s Mark Riley.
During the televised debate, Dutton described Anzac Day as “our most sacred day” and criticised any form of disruption to the commemorations.
He indicated that, if elected, he would be selective about including Welcome to Country ceremonies at official events, suggesting many Australians feel they have become “overdone” and risk “cheapening” their intended significance.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said it was up to organisers to decide, but reaffirmed his view that acknowledging traditional custodians at major events remains a respectful practice.
Uncle Colin Hunter delivers Welcome to Country during the Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon at the MCG
Second coming
This is not the first time Sandilands has raised concerns about Welcome to Country ceremonies.
Last June, following the first game of the 2024 Men’s State of Origin series at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, he delivered a similar critique on The Kyle & Jackie O Show, according to Sky News Australia.
After 21-year-old Savannah Fynn performed an acknowledgment before the match, Sandilands lamented that constant repetition of the ceremony at events like sports matches, shopping centres, and meetings had diluted its impact.
“You can’t go to the shopping centre without someone welcoming you to country as you walk into Westfield,” he said, calling for a more considered, meaningful approach to the tradition.