EXCLUSIVE
Shadow minister for Indigenous ns Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says a Christian minister who refused to do a Welcome to Country ceremony before a religious conference should be allowed to express his opinion.
Right-wing preacher Dave Pellowe was dragged before the Queensland Human Rights Commission following a complaint that he didn’t include the Indigenous ritual, or a smoking ceremony, before his national ‘Church and State’ conferences.
Instead, he read from Psalm 24, which says: ‘The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it, He founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.’
Mr Pellowe opted to forego the ceremony claiming Indigenous spiritual beliefs are at odds with his faith, saying: ‘You can’t mix Christianity, a true religion, with something that is made up.’
‘The ubiquitousness of these Welcome to Country rituals being imposed upon ns of all beliefs or non-belief at sporting events, when you land on a plane, when you walk into a government building,’ he told former Christian Lobby managing director Lyle Shelton.
‘These are religious rituals which Christians in particular should have no part of.’
While many social media users were shocked by his actions, others threw their support behind him citing concern for religious freedoms.
On Sunday, Senator Price – who previously said the ritual should be scaled back – told Daily Mail that threatening Mr Pellowe with legal action over religious expression was a threat to democracy.
‘This is an example of the supposed right not to be offended being prioritised at the expense of freedom of speech,’ she said.
‘People should be entitled to express the fact that their beliefs might be at odds with another group’s set of beliefs, regardless of which culture or people group are involved – this is simply what it means to value freedom of speech.’
Ms Price said the legal threat was an ‘unacceptable encroachment’ into freedom of speech which has contributed to n democracy.
‘We cannot pretend that our society will not suffer if we continue down this path of distorted priorities,’ she said.
The Liberal senator previously told media Welcome to Country practices can be divisive and should be reserved for special occasions.
‘There is no problem with acknowledging our history, but rolling out these performances before every sporting event or public gathering is definitely divisive,’ she said.
‘ns don’t need to be welcomed to their own country.’
‘It’s not welcoming, it’s telling non-Indigenous ns “this isn’t your country” and that’s wrong. We are all ns and we share this great land.’
A number of X users appeared to support Mr Pellowe.
One user said: ‘Welcome To Country or Else? How did we get to the point where preachers such as Dave Pellowe are being taken to court by the AHRC over a welcome to country?’
Another tagged Mr Pellowe and wrote: ‘You have some very questionable ideas but you are allowed to express them.’
A third user said: ‘Surely it’s not compulsory.’
Others were quick to slam him for refusing to hold the ritual, with one user pointing out: ‘It is merely a ceremony which fosters awareness of, and respect for, the prior ownership and the culture of traditional owners.’
Last week, Mr Pellowe told Mr Shelton the original complaint came from a conference ticket-holder who appeared offended when he compared Indigenous beliefs to mainstream religion.
‘They asked me why I’m not worried or concerned about offending indigenous people,’ he said.
‘And my answer to that was an explanation of the duty of Christians to preach the Truth and Gospel and to not mix Christianity with false religion, such as the Aboriginal traditional religion.’
The complainant said he felt racially and religiously humiliated and vilified by Mr Pellowe’s comments.
The minister vowed to fight the complaint on principle and said he was prepared to go to jail to defend his rights.
‘I don’t care if the penalty is $2.50 on the principle of it. I will not apologise for preaching the gospel,’ he said.