It was part of a ceremonial opening to the 45th Parliament in Canberra on Tuesday.

Indigenous elder Tina Brown, dressed in a possum skin cloak and traditional decorations, led a procession of children, representing wedgetail eagles, shaking small tree branches in a women's welcome dance to cleanse the spirit.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/smoking-ceremony-to-welcome-new-parliament/news-story/f85bb4dffb4f7a3901833f651671e4c0