❓ A parliamentary question sought detailed financial data on payments to external providers for 'Welcome to Country' speeches and 'Indigenous Acknowledgements' for FY 23/24 and FY 24/25, which the Premier declined to provide due to resource constraints.
AnsweredQoN 2266Legislative Assembly
Asked
5 May 2026
Member
Portfolio
Premier; Minister for State Development; Trade and Investment; Economic Diversification
QuestionView source ↗
(1) For FY 24/25, please provide the aggregate annual costs (ex GST) paid to external providers for the following:(a) 'Welcome to Country' speeches (where not provided by a Western Australian Public Sector (WAPS) staff member); and(b) 'Indigenous Acknowledgements' (where not provided by a WAPS staff member)?(2) For FY 23/24 Please provide the aggregate annual costs (EX GST) paid to external providers for the following:(a) 'Welcome to Country' speeches (where not provided by a WAPS staff member); and(b) 'Indigenous Acknowledgements' (where not provided by a WAPS staff member)?
(1) For FY 24/25, please provide the aggregate annual costs (ex GST) paid to external providers for the following:
(a) 'Welcome to Country' speeches (where not provided by a Western Australian Public Sector (WAPS) staff member); and
(b) 'Indigenous Acknowledgements' (where not provided by a WAPS staff member)?
(2) For FY 23/24 Please provide the aggregate annual costs (EX GST) paid to external providers for the following:
(a) 'Welcome to Country' speeches (where not provided by a WAPS staff member); and
(b) 'Indigenous Acknowledgements' (where not provided by a WAPS staff member)?
(1) For FY 24/25, please provide the aggregate annual costs (ex GST) paid to external providers for the following:
(a) 'Welcome to Country' speeches (where not provided by a Western Australian Public Sector (WAPS) staff member); and
(b) 'Indigenous Acknowledgements' (where not provided by a WAPS staff member)?
(2) For FY 23/24 Please provide the aggregate annual costs (EX GST) paid to external providers for the following:
(a) 'Welcome to Country' speeches (where not provided by a WAPS staff member); and
(b) 'Indigenous Acknowledgements' (where not provided by a WAPS staff member)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 June 2026
Responded by
Hon Roger Cook
Response time
9 days
The State Government acknowledges the traditional ownership of Aboriginal people in Western Australia and supports the inclusion of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country into appropriate meetings, gatherings, and events.
The information being sought by the member is not readily available and would require considerable research, which would divert staff away from their normal duties. As such, I am not prepared to divert the State’s resources to provide a response.
However, if the Member has a more specific query, I would be pleased to consider arranging for the provision of information.
The information being sought by the member is not readily available and would require considerable research, which would divert staff away from their normal duties. As such, I am not prepared to divert the State’s resources to provide a response.
However, if the Member has a more specific query, I would be pleased to consider arranging for the provision of information.
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