Welcome to Country Connects Us - Fear and Division Don’t
- Gregory Andrews
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 30
This week I had the honour of speaking at the launch of the new Resilient Sydney Strategic Plan alongside the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, and NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Janelle Saffin. Last year I helped contribute to the Plan, which is about how Greater Sydney can thrive — not just survive — in the face of climate change.
I spoke to the theme of “Imagine.”
I asked people to imagine a Sydney where every river, every playground, every tree is not just managed — but loved. A Sydney where everyone — Indigenous and non-Indigenous — feels they belong to Country and are responsible for caring for it. Because that's what Welcomes, Acknowledgements and Connection to Country are about: gratitude and respect for the places we belong and which sustain us.
They're not about ownership. They're not about exclusion. They're about sharing. They're about inviting everyone to be part of caring for the land, waters, and life that sustain us. They're about belonging — through responsibility and respect.
Yet last week, after neo-Nazis attacked a Welcome to Country on ANZAC Day, Peter Dutton chose division over unity. Instead of standing up for the Australian values of respect, connection, shared responsibility — Dutton proposed banning Welcomes from Anzac Day and major sporting events! Dutton condoned and incentivised neo-Nazi hate and division. Not only was this a profound disrespect to Country and First Nations peoples. It was a disrespect to all Australians — to the idea that this country can belong to all of us, if we care for it and each other.
Australia can fall for fear, and the politics of division. Like what's happening in the United States. Or we can choose to imagine something better.
A future where everyone, no matter when or from where their ancestors arrived, can say:
"I belong to Country. I look after Country. And Country looks after me."
The Dreaming doesn't care about the colour of your skin.
If you live on Country, if you respect it and care for it — you belong.
Peter Dutton’s politics won’t build a resilient Australia.
Respect, unity, and shared care for Country will.
dear gregory andrews hello i love your go power passion and i feel and more inspired as i read your out and about actions " just awesome to say the least"
anyway do you ahave a lisst of extinguished native animals and plants? brother"
its frightening its enlightening knowing we can still do more for the current stus of animals and plants ie platypus and koala are being saved but still need to increase thier numbers howeever wherever possible "
I still dont think enough climate action people are large enough by its population of care for mother earth mother nature city an dcountry waterways are being way way over impacted with little or lower in put by LGA ...…
Bravo. Well said. "I belong to Country. I look after Country. And Country looks after me." "If you live on Country, if you respect it and care for it — you belong." The politics of fear and division "won't build a resilient Australia. Respect, unity, and shared care for Country will."