Western Australia's rabble-rouser and Liberal backbencher Wilson ''Ironbar'' Tuckey didn't miss his cue, declaring it should not be done at all.

''I never have thanked anyone for the right to be on the soil that is Australia. Those that have come here have done everything in their power to improve it,'' he said, describing Canberra's Aboriginal tent embassy as a ''slum'' and indigenous dancers as ''grossly overweight'' performers who added nothing to official functions.

Mr Tuckey angered the Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, who said his comments were appalling.

''Welcome to country acknowledgment plays an important role for many Australians," she said.

''Mr Abbott needs to show some leadership and pull Wilson Tuckey into line and make him apologise.

''No rule requires federal ministers to acknowledge traditional owners, but Ms Macklin's department has guidelines for welcomes to country which are encouraged among staff.

Federal Labor denied it had a protocol on the issue. NSW Labor said it encouraged the practice where appropriate, but stopped short of censuring the Lands Minister, Tony Kelly, when he skipped over an acknowledgment in a speech to the Urban Development Institute delivered in the not-so-traditional confines of the Ivy.

The question, then, might be how often traditional owners would rate a mention if governments didn't at least prefer it.

Clarence Slockee, a welcome ceremony performer, said he believed the practice had become so commonplace most people would make acknowledgments even if when they were not required.

It was ''just good manners'', he said. ''The whole thing is just to remind people of where they are.''