A Western Australian One Nation MP has boycotted a Kalgoorlie mining forum after it decided to ditch a welcome to country ceremony.
Mining and Pastoral Region MP Robin Scott said he was “disgusted” after he found out the ceremony had been dropped from the Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum, describing it as a “snub” to local Indigenous people.
Organisers for the event have defended the decision, saying the ceremony had to be dropped after it was discovered the ceremony was going to run for half an hour and would be more detailed and involved than expected.
Organiser John Langford said they were not being disrespectful and the welcome to country would return next year, when they could “get some control over the format” of the ceremony.
