A New South Wales Liberal MP has demanded an investigation after TAFE students complained they were required to sit through up to four Acknowledgement of Country statements a day, delivered before every class. Rachel Merton raised the issue during a budget estimates hearing, telling NSW Education Secretary Murat Dizdar that students found the practice excessive and uncomfortable, prompting officials to agree to look into the matter.

Merton said online TAFE students must declare the traditional Aboriginal country they are logging in from before continuing with coursework, with some reportedly joining classes late to avoid the requirement or unsure of the correct terminology to use. She suggested the practice may be contributing to poor completion rates, noting only around half of TAFE students finish their courses, and said confusion persists over whether the acknowledgement is mandatory or optional. TAFE NSW did not directly answer whether the practice was compulsory, saying only that teachers "can" give an Acknowledgement of Country in line with agency guidelines, while the row has reignited wider debate about the use of such ceremonies in Australian institutions.