The indigenous senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has doubled on plans to revise welcome in financing the country under a chosen coalition government after a new report has shown how much they have cost taxpayers.
More than $ 100,000 has been spent on the events by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the current leadership of Anthony Albanese, according to figures obtained through freedom of information.
Taxpayers fell 97 occasions for two years to July 2024.
That is on top of the $ 450,000 issued by other government agencies in the same period during a national cost of living.
A welcome to the country's ceremony for a visiting Malaysian delegation in March 2023 Taxpayers cost $ 5,500, while another ceremony cost $ 6,600 later that year.
Senator Price has branded the new figures as an example of the Albanian government that pushes money into 'purely symbolism'.
“Welcome to the country may have their place, but we cannot place them at the top of our priority list when everyday Australians have difficulty paying their energy and supermarket tickets,” she told the Daily Telegraph.
It comes after the newly appointed shadow minister of the government's efficiency previously revealed that it would consider distributing financing from the ceremonies if the coalition returns to power in the upcoming federal elections.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has doubled on plans to revise welcome in national financing
Senator Price repeated that a coalition government would reduce government waste and restore expenditure 'with the priorities of everyday Australians'.
“It also means checking the billions of dollars that are issued for the supposed improvement of indigenous Australians, but do not make meaningful progress, so that we can actually start results for our most marginalized native Australians,” she said.
The spokesperson for the Coalition for Foreign Affairs David Coleman added: 'Australians will be shocked about how much the Albanian government spends here, especially in the middle of Labor's Cost-Living Crisis'.
The Albanian government hit back and said that welcome to national ceremonies had been present for many years, also under the previous coalition alloys.
A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that the ceremonies were important when respecting an 'obligation to reconciliation'.
“This is a powerful message to convey about Australia, especially to visitors from the Pacific Ocean, who put a strong emphasis on traditional habit and respect for the knowledge of the elderly,” said the spokeswoman.
“The government is aimed at building closer relationships with our closest neighbors, while (opposition leader Peter) Dutton and the liberals are focused on cultural wars.”
Taxpayers on the bill for 97 Welcome to Country and Rooking Cerconies for two years to July 2024. Displayed is incoming governor-general Sam Mostyn attends a smoking ceremony during ceremony in the parliament house in Canberra
Last week, Senator Price outlined its plans to lower the Canberra deskucracy if the coalition wins the government.
First in her sights is the money spent on indigenous affairs, including welcome to national ceremonies.
“I would like to look at an audit of the billions of dollars spent in the indigenous space, so that we can understand where that can be spent better,” she told the ABC.
“I don't believe we have to spend $ 450,000 a period of welcome to country, while that doesn't really improve the lives of a marginalized, indigenous Australian.”
More than $ 100,000 has been spent on Welcome to National Ceremonies by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the current leadership of Anthony Albanese
“That kind of financing could be diverted to actually improve the lives of marginalized indigenous Australians, contrary to what is used for what is effectively a hospitable ceremony, many of which have now become quite politicized.”
Albanian persisted about the costs of living crisis when he was asked to respond.
“What Australians are worried about when I travel throughout the country is not looking for cultural wars and wants to share,” he said.
