Tucker Carlson reveals the one thing that shocked him most about his time spent in Australia: ‘The most grotesque things I’ve ever seen’

Controversial US political commentator Tucker Carlson has described Welcome to Country ceremonies as the most shocking thing he encountered on his visit to Australia, describing them as ‘grotesque’.

The former Fox News host and right-wing pundit discussed Australian politics in a video that has resurfaced after a group of protesters – one of whom a known neo-Nazi – booed the welcome during a Dawn Service on Anzac Day.

‘When I was in Australia, the thing that shocked me the most was the land acknowledgment,’ Carlson said.

‘I found it one of the most grotesque things I’ve ever seen. One of the most profound humiliation rituals I’ve ever witnessed in my life.’

Carlson said the ceremonies did nothing to improve the lives of Indigenous people.

‘I thought to myself, who is this helping? Is it helping the Indigenous community? If so, tell me how. When you say this doesn’t belong to me, is there someone in the Indigenous community getting a job or a government grant? No,’ Carlson said.

‘No one is benefiting except the people who seek to steal your country. And they’re are going to steal your country, and they’re telling you so.’

Carlson, who visited Australia in June and July last year for a speaking tour, likened the Welcome to Country acknowledgements to having someone forcibly dispossess you of your home.

Controversial US political commentator Tucker Carlson weighed in on Australia’s Welcome to Country, labelling the acknowledgement’s ‘grotesque’ 

Carlson gave a bizarre analogue, comparing Welcome to Country acknowledgements and ceremonies to a group of people trying to ‘steal’ a house 

‘When you are forced to say something is not yours, that means someone else is about to take it from you,’ Carlson said. 

‘If you’re sitting at home one night and an armed group of people show up at your house with guns and say “henceforth, we would like you to say, out loud every single day, this is not our house”. 

‘I paid for this house. I’ve got a mortgage on this house, it’s my house. No, they stick a gun in your face, every day you repeat ‘this is not my house’. 

‘When they do steal your house, you won’t put up a fight because you’ve been trained to believe it is not your house. That’s exactly what a land acknowledgement is.’

A Welcome to Country is a traditional ceremony performed by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander elders to formally welcome people to their land and to give their blessing for events taking place on their traditional lands.

While the ceremonies were intended to foster a togetherness, some argue it does the opposite by treating non-Aboriginal citizens as visitors and on an unequal footing with those giving the welcome. 

The Welcome to Country acknowledgements and ceremonies have been a major talking point during this election campaign due to their increasing prevalence.

Liberal leader Peter Dutton placed himself in the centre of the debate after a small group of hecklers including self-described neo-Nazi Jacob Hersant disrupted the Welcome to Country at an Anzac Day Dawn Service in Melbourne. 

Mr Dutton said the overuse of Welcome to Country ceremonies and messages had created resentment. 

It comes after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton clarified his stance on Welcome to Country ceremonies and acknowledgements, claiming they were ‘overdone’

He repeated the criticism on Monday, adding that he believed Welcome to Country ceremonies should only happen at very significant events. 

When asked whether he would consider Anzac Day significant enough, the opposition leader said: ‘No’.

‘Listening to a lot of veterans in the space, Anzac Day is about our veterans,’ Mr Dutton told reporters from the campaign trail.

Labor campaign spokesman Jason Clare said right-wing extremists were being allowed to lead the debate on Welcome to Country ceremonies, while Finance Minister Katy Gallagher accused Mr Dutton of trying to reignite culture wars. 

The Dawn Service interruption was followed by the cancellation at short notice of a Welcome to Country ceremony and associated dance performance before the Melbourne Storm’s NRL game that night.

Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin said she was heartbroken when told it was being cancelled, and even after that decision was reversed, she was too upset by that time to go on.

Aunty Joy, whose father fought in World War I, said on Monday the long-held ceremony had been practiced between communities for thousands of years.

‘It is a matter of respect,’ she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the ceremonies as a mark of respect and said it was up to individual organisations to decide whether to include them at events.

 Aboriginal elder critics miss the point of Welcome to Country, Alyawarre woman and co-chair of the Uluru Dialogue Pat Anderson AO said.

‘Again, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are used as a political football in an outdated and tired match,’ she said.

‘It is not up to politicians to regulate when and how a Welcome to Country should happen.’

Ms Anderson expressed her sadness over the displays of disrespect on the Anzac weekend.

‘A Welcome to Country is an ancient act of generosity and peace,’ she said.

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