Latest news with #AcknowledgmenttoCountry
Sky News AU
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Senator Pauline Hanson criticises Liberal leader Sussan Ley for Acknowledgment of Country before National Press Club speech
Senator Pauline Hanson has said she was left "disgusted" with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley after her Acknowledgment to Country during a major speech last week. The Liberal leader spoke at the National Press Club on Wednesday, but before she kicked off her address she acknowledged the traditional owners of the land. The party's former leader Peter Dutton had a hard stance on First Nations ceremonies, including the Welcome to Country, saying they had been "overdone" after a number of people booed at a Melbourne Anzac Day dawn service in April. Senator Hanson did not hold back in her assessment of Ms Ley's act. "I was disgusted. Absolutely disgusted with it," she told Sky News' Danica and James. "Because the Liberals, they were the ones that actually opposed the Voice to Parliament. It wasn't just the Liberals that opposed it. It was a lot of people like myself, like Gary Johns, and then you had Barnaby Joyce and you had Jacinta Price." "Because once the public were informed about what it meant and changed in the Constitution, people were better informed and made their decisions about it." The firebrand politician also believes Ms Ley is not the right person to be leading the party as she was a moderate and that a "true conservative" had to replace her. "It's going to be very interesting what happens the next three years under Sussan Ley. I think she will be overthrown before the next election," Senator Hanson added. Earlier, the One Nation leader was asked about a poll from the Institute of Public Affairs which had found 56 per cent of people say Welcome to Country ceremonies are divisive. According to the survey conducted by research firm Dynata, 27 per cent of others questioned said they were unsure and 17 per cent disagreed on the remark. "Every Australian out there that's got a backbone about them and say, 'we're not going to deal with this anymore', turn your back on it as I do every time I'm in parliament and they do a Welcome to Country. I turn my back," Senator Hanon said. She also claimed to have turned her back on the ceremony during her grandson's school's anniversary, saying she is not "going to put up with this rubbish". "It's ridiculous where we're going. It's divisive. More than 56 per cent of the public out there are so over this but they are in fear of being called a bigot or racist," she said. Senator Hanson also praised the Melbourne council worker for standing up against his employer after an Acknowledgment to Country during a toolbox meeting. It was revealed on Thursday Melbourne street sweeper Shaun Turner had won his unfair dismissal case after he was dismissed by Darebin City Council in June. Mr Turner said the use of the Acknowledgment to Country is "getting out of hand". "That council worker, good on him for actually fighting back over it and questioning it. And yet he's lost his job. He's won it in the courts and I hope that they actually apologise to him and offer his job back," Senator Hanson told Sky News.
Sky News AU
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Hallelujah for commonsense': Sky News host Peta Credlin slams ‘woke' council over Acknowledgment to Country sacking
Two Sky News hosts have slammed a 'woke' Melbourne council over sacking a street sweeper for objecting to an Acknowledgment to Country during a toolbox meeting last year. It was revealed on Thursday Melbourne street sweeper Shaun Turner had won his unfair dismissal case this week after he was dismissed by Darebin City Council in June. Mr Turner said Acknowledgments to Country were "getting out of hand". The street cleaner insisted if anyone should be thanked, it was the "people who have worn the uniform and fought for our country to keep us free". In his evidence, Mr Turner requested for the "choice to step outside" during an Acknowledgment to Country, and expressed his acceptance that others may wish to participate in the custom. "My job is to come to work to drive a street sweeper ... if you want to do a welcome to the meeting, fine, give people a choice to step outside," he said. Mr Turner said in his testimony that he believed he had been "made out to be a racist". Fair Work Commission deputy president Richard Clancy found the council misrepresented Mr Turner's comments. On Thursday night, Sky News host Peta Credlin said Mr Turner's triumph over Darebin City Council was a 'rare win for commonsense' and questioned what kind of employer would 'insist' for every meeting to begin with an Acknowledgment to Country. 'What kind an employer would try then sack a staff member who dared to question the practise? The Derebin Council, that's who,' Credlin said. She took aim at 'possibly the most woke council in Victoria' and praised Mr Turner for the gumption of 'taking them on' after being sacked for merely expressing his 'incredulity'. Mr Clancy said the street cleaner and his team were caught by surprise at the Acknowledgment to Country and that Mr Turner's remarks, specifically his question, "are you joking?" was a reaction of genuine surprise. Credlin agreed with Mr Turner that military personnel should be thanked, but added it should have 'never have come to this'. 'These acknowledgements have totally got out of hand,' she said. 'They're becoming a way of saying that the country belongs to some of us more than to all of us. And that's not right.' Credlin invoked former prime minister Bob Hawke who said in Australia there was no 'hierarchy of descent'. 'There is not privilege of origin and we must keep it that way,' she said. 'Get this bloke a seat in parliament.' Also heaping on the praise was Sky News host James McPherson who, on Thursday night, called Mr Turner an 'absolute legend'. 'Make the street sweeper the Lord Mayor. In fact, even better, make the street sweeper, the leader of the Liberal Party because Susan Ley ... started her Press Club address with a Welcome to Country saying we want to be in touch with modern Australia," he said. "Well, this street sweeper, he is more in touch with modern Australia than the leader of the Liberal Party.'
Sky News AU
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Melbourne street sweeper wins unfair dismissal case against left-wing council after objecting to Acknowledgment to Country
Melbourne street sweeper Shaun Turner has won his unfair dismissal case after he was sacked by a left-wing council for objecting to an Acknowledgment to County before a weekly toolbox meeting. Mr Turner was dismissed by Darebin City Council for questioning why an Acknowledgement of Country was being introduced at a meeting of the street cleaning team. The street cleaner insisted if anyone should be thanked, it was the "people who have worn the uniform and fought for our country to keep us free". Mr Turner said Acknowledgments to Country were "getting out of hand". "It is now being done at the opening of a postage stamp,' he told council managers. 'I don't need to be welcomed into my own country.' According to the Australian, during the meeting with council managers, Mr Turner was accompanied by an Indigenous support person. He told the council managers investigating his alleged "serious misconduct" that he believed Acknowledgment to Country should only be invoked for special occasions. According to the outlet, the Darebin City Council's chief people officer Yvette Fuller told the street cleaner that there were "very strong expectations" the Acknowledgement was undertaken at "all formal meetings". Mr Turner then questioned why an Acknowledgment had not occurred during the meeting with investigators. The council terminated Mr Turner and alleged he said the Acknowledgment was not necessary and that Indigenous people did not "deserve an acknowledgement at the start of meetings'. Darebin City Council also alleged Mr Turner had made derogatory remarks about a colleague. Fair Work Commission deputy president Richard Clancy found the council misrepresented Mr Turner's comments. "I am satisfied, however, that Mr Turner made a comment to the effect that if anyone was to be acknowledged or thanked at a toolbox meeting, it should be the servicemen and women who had fought for this country (i.e. Australia) but I do not consider that expressing such an opinion constitutes a valid reason for dismissal,' Mr Clancy said. Mr Clancy said the street cleaner and his team were caught by surprise at the Acknowledgment to Country and that Mr Turner's remarks, specifically his question, "are you joking?" was a reaction of genuine surprise. 'I reiterate that even if the reasons for the dismissal relating to the comments about Acknowledgements of Country and Mr Turner's colleague were regarded as valid, the dismissal was harsh because it was disproportionate,' Mr Clancy said. The Fair Work Commission deputy president also acknowledged that an Acknowledgment to Country had not been performed before the formal investigation meeting, which was attended by an Indigenous support person. Mr Turner said in his testimony that he believed he had been "made out to be a racist". 'Well, I've got to say that I was brought up on Broadmeadows. I come from a family of eight. My best friends out at Broadmeadows happen to be Aboriginals, one of them marrying my sister. I have a niece and great-niece and nephews who are all Aboriginals," Mr Turner said. He has sought a full reinstatement and another commission hearing will be held to determine further remedies following Mr Turner's unfair dismissal. has contacted Darebin City Council for comment.
