Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor Party is set to formally reaffirm its support for Welcome to Country ceremonies as part of an updated national platform. This move comes as the party addresses concerns over rising racism and growing support for the nationalist One Nation party.
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) will commit to these policies at its 50th national conference in Adelaide later in July, the party's highest decision-making body. The changes are intended to update the ALP's draft national platform, which outlines policy priorities and political direction ahead of the next federal election.
"Labor is proud of the symbols of First Nations people, including the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag," the draft platform states, according to The Australian newspaper. "Labor recognizes the importance of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies, as opportunities to show respect to First Nations people."
The draft platform also includes a commitment to the principles of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the document that first introduced the concept of a Voice to Parliament. However, it notes that treaty negotiations and truth-telling initiatives would be left to state and territory governments.
This reaffirmation of Indigenous policy marks a significant moment for the Labor Party since the defeat of the referendum on a Voice to Parliament, in which 60 percent of Australians voted no. The party's updated stance also represents a notable shift following the May federal budget, which did not include specific commitments on the Voice, treaty, or truth-telling.
A senior Labor source indicated that the anti-racism strategy is a direct response to internal party concerns about escalating racism, particularly in online spaces, and the increasing popularity of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's calls to end multiculturalism. The draft states, "Labor is very concerned by the rise of racism and of division, and will continue to oppose those who foster extremism, hatred, ethnic division or incitement to violence."
Labor plans to develop and implement a national anti-racism strategy aimed at combating racism, promoting multiculturalism, and supporting educational initiatives to foster inclusion across Australia's diverse communities.
Public opinion on Welcome to Country ceremonies remains divided. Research by the Institute of Public Affairs in April found that 60 percent of 1,001 surveyed Australians agreed or strongly agreed that the ceremonies had become divisive, with only 12 percent disagreeing.
In addition to Indigenous policies, the Labor platform may also see amendments concerning economic policy. Unions are pushing for a motion recognizing that interest rate rises by the Reserve Bank of Australia are a "blunt instrument which hurts workers and vulnerable Australians first and hardest." This push aims to appeal to working-class voters who may be alienated by policies that disproportionately affect mortgage holders.
However, sources within the Albanese government have expressed uncertainty about the likelihood of this economic motion passing.
If the proposed amendments to the draft platform are approved at the conference, state and territory governments will not be formally required to implement every aspect of the ALP platform.