WA Liberals will not abandon Welcome to Country

WA Liberal Leader Basil Zempilas has distanced himself from the federal party by rejecting a motion to abandon Welcome to Country ceremonies and the display of Indigenous flags.

The WA Liberal State council voted to remove Indigenous flags and reduce welcome to country ceremonies at its meeting on the weekend.

But Mr Zempilas told The Australian newspaper that the WA Parliamentary Liberal Party would not support the changes.

“We are very comfortable with standing in front of the Aboriginal flag, we are very comfortable with the Welcome to Country,” Mr Zempilas said.

Mr Zempilas had already left the State council meeting before the vote had taken place.

In Tasmania Hobart City councillors also voted to keep Aboriginal acknowledgements in official council meetings and events.

The council debated a motion on Monday calling for Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country to be removed from meeting agendas and the actual proceedings of council-run events.

The council voted eight-four to reject the proposal.