An Army veteran and Whadjuk Noongar elder who was booed during a Welcome to Country at Perth's Anzac Day service has described feeling “mortified” but remains resolute in her commitment to the tradition.
The political fallout from the controversy deepened on Monday, with Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor warning that the “overuse” of Welcome to Country performances has “devalued” them. WA Liberal Leader Basil Zempilas acknowledged the practice is occurring too often but labeled the booing of Di Ryder’s speech as “shameful.”
WA Premier Roger Cook accused the Liberals of disrespecting the First Nations tradition. “It’s about respect. If Angus Taylor and Basil Zempilas do not respect our First Nations people, they should say so,” he told reporters. “They should be honest, but not try to use these mealy words, merely mouthed words, to politicise what is a sacred and important process for our community.”
Indigenous veteran Di Ryder, who led the Welcome to Country at the Kings Park service, agreed that the ceremony can sometimes be overused but called the disruption of the official service “so disrespectful” and an example of growing nastiness.
“Got to be honest, they can be (overused). But this is a ceremony where we’re honouring where we’re actually standing on Noongar country,” she said. “It’s also about the respect shown to those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that did serve. I was mortified that it happened on Anzac Day. That day is sacred to all of us.”
She warned that racism is escalating, particularly online. “It’s something that I don’t think will ever change until we start making that stand and, unfortunately, with social media and being able to sit by their computers, behind their keyboards, (people) actually say things that they wouldn’t normally say to Aboriginal people,” she said. “We need to get control, the Government, or somebody, needs to start saying you are saying things that are not good, but until that happens, the nastiness that’s out there for Aboriginal people is not good.”
The RSL has vowed to consult Federal Police about measures to prevent a repeat next year. WA Police confirmed that 15 move-on orders were issued in relation to dawn service disruptions on Saturday.
The Premier praised the response. “What we saw on ANZAC Day this year was an orchestrated effort by a group of individuals that sought to disrupt and sought to bring disrespect to one of our most sacred processes,” he said. “I want to thank the CEO of the RSL WA who, I feel, captured everyone’s sentiments about how disgusted and appalled we were by their behaviour. And even though he asked the audience not to applause, once he made that observation, the entire crowd applauded. Di is a veteran. Not only does she deserve the respect of everyone in the community for her service to the country, but we should also acknowledge that she’s made of pretty tough stuff and so she’s unflappable. We can’t let them divide us. We can’t let them sow the hatred into our community that they seek, because it’s in that hatred and that fear that they flourish.”
