WA Indigenous affairs minister Ben Wyatt said decision was ‘regrettable’ and Greens senator Rachel Siewert called it ‘hurtful’

This article is more than 6 months old

This article is more than 6 months old

The Western Australian branch of the RSL has withdrawn its ban on the performance of Welcome to Country ceremonies and the flying of the Aboriginal flag at all of its Anzac and Remembrance Day services.

In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, RSLWA had said that while it supported the right to fly the Indigenous flag and make a Welcome to Country dedication at official ceremonies, “What RSL is not supportive of is the use of Welcome to Country as part of the actual service itself in terms of the Dawn Service of ANZAC Day and the 11am Service at Remembrance Day”.

“For example, RSLWA supports and encourages the conduct of a combined Indigenous/Maori ceremony immediately after the Dawn service itself,” the statement said.

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The Greens senator Rachel Siewert called on RSLWA to reverse the “offensive and hurtful” policy, and the WA treasurer and Indigenous affairs minister, Ben Wyatt, a Yamatji man, said the decision was “regrettable and divisive”.

In a statement on Sunday, the RSLWA chief executive, John McCourt, said the policy had been withdrawn.

“Given the level of community reaction to RSLWA’s advisory policy on cultural matters relating to commemoration, this policy has now been withdrawn,” a statement read.

“RSLWA is concerned that its position on the matter had unfortunately drawn misunderstandings of its intent.

“RSLWA values and respects the Australian Indigenous community and, in particular, Indigenous veterans.

“RSLWA accepts the policy may have been open to misinterpretation.

“Its advisory policy will be reviewed and relaunched in the near future following further dialogue with interested parties.”

Facebook users welcomed the move after the RSLWA posted an ABC report on the withdrawal of the ban.

Anthony Shane posted: “Congrats to the people of Western Australia for standing up and showing solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters, and especially Indigenous veterans. Racism – it stops with us!”

Nao Grea posted: “Good News! Defence is for all, as is Remembrance for all Australians, as represented by our Australian flags.”

According to the ABC, the policy change was sparked after Aboriginal elder Prof Len Collard read The Ode in Noongar language at the Anzac dawn service in Fremantle in 2019.

Siewert had described the policy as “offensive and hurtful”. “This is First Nations land and many First Nations peoples served this nation,” she said. “Many First Nations peoples have served this country in the armed services and this move by the RSL is deeply offensive to their memories and not in the Anzac spirit.”

Wyatt wrote on Twitter: “I suggest they reconsider. Immediately. It is worth noting that our New Zealand partners embrace the language of their Indigenous peoples at Anzac Day ceremonies. We should do the same.”