The ANZAC Day Welcome to Country Controversy, By James Reed

From a Christian conservative perspective, ANZAC Day is a sacred occasion to honour the sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand soldiers, reflecting values of courage, loyalty, and mateship that align with Biblical principles of selflessness and service (John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends"). The events of ANZAC Day 2025 in Melbourne, where protests against the Welcome to Country ceremony led to arrests, raise complex questions about cultural recognition, national identity, and the potential fallout of escalating tensions.

On April 25, 2025, during the ANZAC Day dawn service at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance, a group of protesters, including a self-described neo-Nazi, heckled and booed the Welcome to Country ceremony performed by Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown. One protester previously convicted for performing a Nazi salute, was arrested and is expected to be charged with offensive behaviour, as reported by The Age and The Guardian. The protesters shouted phrases like "we don't want to be welcomed" and "this is our country," claiming the ceremony detracted from the day's focus on honouring veterans.

From a Christian conservative perspective, the protesters' actions, while controversial, can be defended on several grounds:

Preserving the Sanctity of ANZAC Day: ANZAC Day commemorates the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing, a defining moment for Australian identity rooted in the sacrifice of soldiers who fought for national sovereignty and freedom. The protesters argued that the Welcome to Country, an Indigenous ritual, shifts focus away from the veterans' sacrifice to a modern political agenda. A Christian conservative might resonate with this, seeing ANZAC Day as a day to honour those who died for a unified nation under God (Romans 13:1, respecting governing authorities established by God), not to highlight divisive cultural narratives. Posts on X reflect similar sentiments, with some users arguing the ceremony implies veterans aren't in "their own country," undermining the very freedoms they fought for.

Freedom of Expression: The protesters, though offensive to many, were exercising their right to dissent. From a Christian perspective, freedom of speech can be seen as a God-given right to speak truth (Ephesians 4:15), even if it's unpopular. The booing, while disruptive, was a non-violent expression of frustration over what they perceive as an imposition of "woke" ideology on a sacred day. Political leaders like woke globo socialist Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, condemned the act as "beyond contempt," but the heavy-handed response—arrests—might be seen as an overreach, stifling legitimate debate about cultural practices in national ceremonies.

Historical Context of ANZAC Sacrifice: The protesters linked their actions to the historical fight against ideologies like Nazism, which ANZAC soldiers opposed in World War II. ANZAC Day should focus on the shared national identity forged through sacrifice, not on modern identity politics. A Christian conservative might argue that unity in Christ (Galatians 3:28, "neither Jew nor Gentile") should supersede ethnic divisions, and the Welcome to Country risks fracturing that unity on a day meant for collective remembrance.

The arrests, while legal under Australian woke Leftist law, may fuel perceptions of censorship among those who share their views, as seen in X posts questioning the ceremony's relevance.

The Welcome to Country is a modern Indigenous ritual where elders formally welcome visitors to their traditional lands, often paired with an Acknowledgement of Country. On ANZAC Day 2025, it was performed by Uncle Mark Brown in Melbourne and disrupted in both Melbourne and Perth. From a Christian conservative perspective, the ideology behind this practice can be critiqued on several grounds:

Historical Revisionism: The Welcome to Country, as a formalised ceremony, is a relatively recent invention, popularised in the 1970s by activists like Ernie Dingo, not an ancient Aboriginal tradition as often claimed. A 2023 study by the Institute of Public Affairs notes that while Indigenous groups had protocols for greeting visitors, the modern ceremony was crafted to assert land rights amid political debates over native title. This revisionism clashes with a Christian conservative view of history, which prioritises factual accuracy (Proverbs 12:17, "An honest witness tells the truth"). Presenting it as an ancient practice on ANZAC Day—a day rooted in documented historical sacrifice—is a distortion, undermining the event's focus.

Implied Ownership and Division: The ceremony's language often implies that Aboriginal people are the sole custodians of the land, which can be interpreted as exclusionary. On ANZAC Day, when Australians honour soldiers who fought for a unified nation, the Welcome to Country might suggest that non-Indigenous Australians are mere "visitors" on their own soil. From a Christian perspective, this contradicts the Biblical view of shared stewardship over the earth (Genesis 1:28, humanity given dominion together) and national unity under God's authority (Acts 17:26, God "determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live").

Political Overtones: The Welcome to Country often carries a political subtext, tied to movements for Indigenous sovereignty, reparations, and treaty negotiations. On ANZAC Day, this can feel out of place, as the day is meant to transcend contemporary politics and focus on shared sacrifice. A Christian conservative should see this as a form of cultural Marxism, dividing society into oppressors and oppressed, which conflicts with Scripture's call for reconciliation and equality in Christ (Colossians 3:11). The booing in Melbourne and Perth, reflects a broader frustration with this perceived politicisation, as noted in The Nightly's coverage of public support for the protests.

Spiritual Concerns: For some Christian conservatives, the Welcome to Country raises spiritual red flags. Indigenous ceremonies often invoke ancestral spirits or Dreamtime beliefs, which can conflict with Christian theology (Exodus 20:3, "You shall have no other gods before me"). While not all Welcome to Country ceremonies are overtly spiritual, the inclusion of such elements on a national day of remembrance might feel like an imposition of non-Christian beliefs, especially when veterans of all faiths are being honoured.

The Welcome to Country risks alienating those who see ANZAC Day as a unifying national event, not a platform for cultural or political statements. Its modern origins and divisive undertones make it a lightning rod for controversy, as seen in the 2025 protests.