Alex Antic (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was hardly surprising to see a welcome to country before the opening of the Brisbane-GWS AFL match last weekend, but what was surprising was the assertion that these ceremonies have been conducted for 250,000 years, BC—that's 'Before Cook'. Prior to this, we'd been told that the history of Aboriginal Australians began 50,000 to 60,000 years ago. Now, the idea that AFL fans and players are expected to listen to these ceremonies when all they actually want to do is watch the football is extraordinary, and one suspects that many viewers, who in principle wouldn't have had a problem with these practices, are getting as fed up—

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, Senator Antic, just resume your seat. Senator Thorpe, you have a point of order?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. I just wanted to interrupt his speech.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Seriously—two minutes—for crying out loud. Senator Antic.

Alex Antic (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Acting Deputy President. It tells the story, does it not? But I think Australians are getting fed up with that sort of behaviour in ceremonies, just like you and I are, and we haven't arrived at this point overnight. It has come because of years of indulging them at woke community meetings, woke sports matches, woke council meetings—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Antic, resume your seat. Colleagues, we're only asking you to listen in peace and quiet for two minutes. That's all. It's not a big ask. Can we just do that? The gallery is full of people watching the behaviour here. It's quite childish. Senator Antic, you have the call.

Alex Antic (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I think we're making the point very clearly here. It's come because of years of indulging them at woke community meetings, woke sports matches, woke council meetings and woke weddings. Who knows where else? First it was 10,000 years, then 20,000, then 30,000, then 60,000, and now it's 250,000 years! As I've said before, I don't need to be welcomed to my own country, and nor do you. What we witnessed before the match last weekend was a product of letting this ride for too long. Have you had enough? I certainly have.