First Nations
Opening of Parliament begins with Welcome to Country
12 February 2008
A Welcome to Country ceremony is held at the opening of the Australian Parliament for the first time.
The Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples are the traditional custodians of the lands where the Australian Parliament meets in Canberra. For the first time in 2008, Ngambri-Ngunnawal elder Dr Matilda House performed a Welcome to Country as part of the opening proceedings of the Australian Parliament.
Traditionally, when parliament meets for the first time after a federal election, an opening ceremony is held. This ceremony is based on traditions of the British Parliament. The events of the opening of Parliament are set out in the standing orders of the Senate and House of Representatives, which are the rules used to manage their meetings. A Welcome to Country has since become a permanent feature of the opening of a new Parliament after both the Senate and House changed their standing orders to include it.
In 2010, the standing orders of the Senate and House were also changed to include an Acknowledgement of Country made by the presiding officers at the beginning of each sitting day.
Opening of the 42nd Parliament, Dr Matilda House, 12 February 2008
Howard Moffat/ DPS AUSPIC
Opening of the 42nd Parliament, Dr Matilda House, 12 February 2008
Howard Moffat/ DPS AUSPIC
Description
A Welcome to Country was delivered by Matilda House as part of the opening of the 42nd Parliament in 2008. This was the first time a Welcome to Country had been incorporated as part of the opening of a new Parliament.
Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.