EXCLUSIVE
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, the shadow minister for Aboriginal Australia, says a Christian minister who refused to hold a welcome-to-country ceremony before a religious conference should be allowed to speak out.
Right-wing preacher Dave Pellowe has been brought before the Queensland Human Rights Commission following a complaint that he failed to include an Indigenous ritual, or smoking ceremony, before his national “Church and State” conferences.
Instead, he read Psalm 24, which says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it, the world, and all who dwell in it. He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”
Mr Pellowe opted to forgo the ceremony on the grounds that indigenous spiritual beliefs are at odds with his faith, saying: “You cannot mix Christianity, a true religion, with something made up.”
“The ubiquity of these welcome-to-country rituals that are imposed on Australians of all faiths and non-faiths at sporting events, when you land on a plane, when you walk into a government building,” he told former Christian Lobby managing director Lyle Shelton.
“These are religious rituals in which Christians, in particular, should not participate.”
While many social media users were shocked by his actions, others expressed their support, citing concerns for religious freedoms.
On Sunday, Senator Price, who has previously said the ritual should be scaled back, told Daily Mail Australia that threatening Pellowe with legal action over his religious expression was a threat to democracy.
Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (pictured) has defended a church leader
“This is an example of the supposed right not to be offended being prioritized at the expense of freedom of expression,” he said.
‘People should have the right to express the fact that their beliefs may be at odds with another group’s set of beliefs, regardless of what culture or group of people is involved – this is simply what it means to value freedom of speech.’
Ms Price said the legal threat was an “unacceptable intrusion” on the freedom of expression that has contributed to Australian democracy.
“We cannot pretend that our society will not suffer if we continue down this path of distorted priorities,” he said.
The Liberal senator previously told media that Welcome to Country practices can be divisive and should be reserved for special occasions.
“There’s no problem with acknowledging our history, but putting on these performances before every sporting event or public gathering is definitely divisive,” he said.
“Australians do not need to be welcomed in their own country.”
“It’s not a way to welcome non-Indigenous Australians, it’s like saying ‘this is not your country’, and that’s wrong. We are all Australians and we share this great land.”
Dave Pellowe refused to perform a welcome ceremony or smoke before a religious conference (file image)
Several X users appeared to support Mr Pellowe.
One user said: “Welcome to the country or something? How did we get to the point where preachers like Dave Pellowe are being taken to court by the AHRC for a welcome to the country?”
Another tagged Mr Pellowe and wrote: “You have some very questionable ideas but you are allowed to express them.”
A third user said: “It’s probably not mandatory.”
Others were quick to criticise him for refusing to perform the ritual, with one user noting: “It is simply a ceremony that fosters awareness and respect for the previous ownership and culture of the traditional owners.”
Last week, Mr Pellowe told Mr Shelton that the original complaint came from a conference ticket holder who seemed offended when he compared indigenous beliefs to mainstream religion.
Conservative Christian minister Dave Pellowe (pictured) says he will fight the claim
“I was asked why I was not worried or concerned about offending indigenous people,” he said.
“And my response to that was an explanation of the duty of Christians to preach the Truth and the Gospel and not to mix Christianity with false religion, such as traditional Aboriginal religion.”
The complainant said he felt humiliated and racially and religiously vilified by Mr Pellowe’s comments.
The minister vowed to fight the complaint on principle and said he was willing to go to jail to defend his rights.
“I don’t care if the fine is $2.50 on principle. I’m not going to apologize for preaching the gospel,” he said.