SOME love it. Some can’t see the point. And now Bill Shorten wants to make it part of the routine of Parliament.

It’s the indigenous “welcome to country”, which now marks the start of many public and corporate occasions.

A Labor government would have it performed at the start of every parliamentary year. And it would happen on the floor of Parliament where the MPs and senators sit.

The Opposition Leader tonight said he got the idea from the new book Two Futures, by Labor backbenchers Clare O’Neil and Tim Watts.

Launching it tonight, Mr Shorten said one of its suggestions should be adopted immediately.

“We should begin the parliamentary year with a welcome to country, in the chamber,” he said.

“In the standing orders, inviting guests onto the floor is referred to as welcoming ‘strangers’ to the house. But it is us, the non-indigenous Australians, who are the strangers.

“And so let us renew each democratic year, with an acknowledgment of the world’s oldest continuing culture. And a reminder, to all of us, of Australia’s ongoing journey to reconciliation.

“A Labor government will make this happen.”

Not everyone is a big fan of the ceremony.

Former Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu wanted to can them in 2011 and was backed by a Liberal predecessor Jeff Kennett, who said too often it was given by rote and without passion. They had become a fixture of political correctness.

“I’ve been embarrassed by the welcome to country. I haven’t given it myself because I felt it was being given for the wrong reason,” Mr Kennett said at the time.

“When appropriate, there will be recognition of the community and recognition of the elders when they’re in the room, but we’re not going to be in a situation of political correctness for no other reason than someone says we should do it.’’

Mr Shorten’s proposal comes at a time when sensitive negotiations are under way on a referendum to formally recognise indigenous history.

On a practical level, it could see the floor of Parliament engulfed in fumes of a traditional smoking ceremony.

Mr Shorten saluted the two Victorian authors, who were elected at the last election.

“When we gathered here, for the first caucus meeting of our time in Opposition, we had gained a new Labor generation — the class of 2013,” he said.

“A smart, talented, hardworking and united crop of Labor MPs who have brought new energy, new purpose and new ideas to our caucus. This is, I believe, one of the reasons we have been able to rebuild and renew our party with such speed and success.

“The two authors we salute tonight, Clare O’Neil and Tim Watts, exemplify the qualities of our new Labor generation.

“And Two Futures, the product of their combined efforts, contains the thoughtful optimism, the intellectual rigour, and the deep interest in building a better future.”