Aussies have reacted with anger and disbelief after a “welcome to country” was performed at the state funeral for late broadcaster Derryn Hinch, who opposed the humiliation rituals.
The highly respected journalist, who died aged 82 on July 10, was farewelled by more than 350 mourners in Melbourne on Monday at a service attended by prominent media figures from the 80s and 90s and arranged by Victoria’s Labor state government.
The funeral featured a “welcome to country” by far-left activist and professional aboriginal Mark Brown, who has been booed two years in a row on Anzac Day and last year celebrated the political assassination of US conservative icon Charlie Kirk.
Professional aboriginal Mark Brown (who was booed on Anzac Day) delivers a “welcome to country” at Derryn Hinch’s state funeral.
Ray Martin later said Hinch wouldn’t have wanted it.
Follow: @NoticerNews pic.twitter.com/nLICHtOM11
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) July 21, 2026
Booing was disrespectful on Anzac Day but Welcome should not have been there, Diggers fought and died for all Australians.
— Derryn Hinch (@HumanHeadline) April 26, 2026
Mr Brown, who charges up to $4,500 to perform speeches and “welcome to countries”, was also criticised for wearing a baseball cap and his own personal merchandise during the dawn services, and Hinch himself said he was against Mr Brown’s performance.
“Booing was disrespectful on Anzac Day but Welcome should not have been there, Diggers fought and died for all Australians,” Hinch wrote on X on April 26.
Hinch also opposed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s failed Voice to Parliament referendum in 2023.
During the funeral, where he did not wear a cap, Mr Brown told attendees they were on the “country of his ancestors”, and noted that such ceremonies were not usually performed at funerals.
“A ‘welcome to country’ is usually offered at the beginning of something, but today we offer it as part of a farewell,” he said.
“I welcome those who remain, while our ancestors stand steady to receive the spirit of the one who has passed.”
Journalist Ray Martin later said in his own eulogy that Hinch “wouldn’t have much cared for the ‘welcome to country'”, and many everyday Aussies expressed their opposition to its inclusion in the taxpayer-funded state funeral.
“Labor used Derryn’s funeral to virtue signal and push their own divisive political ideology,” wrote political commentator Lozzy B.
“Even in death they want to force the guilt trip on you,” wrote content creator I Malcontent.
“Can’t even die without having this woke bullshit shoved down out throats,” said another Aussie.
Hinch was born in New Zealand, but moved to Australia as a young man where he became one of the country’s most popular radio and TV journalists, and was known as the Human Headline.
He was later elected to the Senate after forming the Justice Party, and was convicted three times and jailed for 50 days for breaching media suppression orders to name paedophiles, sex offenders and killers.
Hinch died in his sleep at his home after battling health issues, including liver cancer, over the last two decades of his life.
Header image: Left, Mark Brown at the funeral. Right, Derryn Hinch (Victorian Government).
