A group of right-wing senators have been sharply criticised for turning their backs on the Acknowledgement of Country inside the federal parliament.

The four One Nation politicians were responding to a statement of respect that was read out in the Senate chamber as part of the traditional ceremonial opening of parliament on Tuesday.

Cabinet minister Clare O’Neil lashed the Pauline Hanson-led party, saying it was disappointing their action became a point of focus, despite the shows of unity earlier in the day during Welcome to Country ceremonies.

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“It was disrespectful and rude and childish,” she told Seven on Wednesday.

The opening of parliament was a day to celebrate the strength of Australia’s democracy and recommit to working for Australia’s citizens, O’Neil added.

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said while it was up to the government to determine the ceremonies for the opening of parliament, and that she had listened respectfully to the acknowledgement, others had different perspectives.

She also compared the One Nation silent protest to politicians who walk out of the chamber during the morning prayers and those who don’t support the monarchy.

“The problem in a liberal democracy like ours is when we can’t express different views,” she told Sunrise.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has described the Acknowledgement of Country as “divisive” and “increasingly forced”.

But O’Neil said the party should still have treated all Australians with respect.

“Whatever your views about the Welcome to Country — we’ve got First Nations people who have been invited to come to parliament, to extend that hand of friendship and invite us and talk about 65,000 years of heritage that they bring to our beautiful, great country,” she said.

“To treat people that way on the first day of parliament, I think, it was absolutely appalling.”

Welcome to Country ceremonies and land acknowledgements have been at the centre of a right-wing culture war after a group of neo-Nazis booed a Welcome to Country address during an Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne earlier in 2025.

Labor has backed Welcome to Country ceremonies, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday celebrating the tradition as a powerful way to begin the new parliament and reflect on Australia’s history.

Albanese also took a veiled swipe at former opposition leader Peter Dutton and some coalition MPs who branded Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country proclamations as divisive and overdone.

“Like a lot of the more positive things about our nation, we shouldn’t take it for granted,” Albanese said, adding the ceremony was not controversial.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the ceremony “set the tone as we re-commit ourselves to the taking of practical action to improve lives and expand opportunity for Indigenous Australians in every part of our great country”.

Welcome to Country is conducted by Traditional Owners, while Acknowledgement of Country is a statement of respect for Traditional Owners and connection to land, which can be given by an Indigenous or non-Indigenous person.