Beauty queen Renae Ayris claimed Aboriginal people have a “bad attitude” towards her and singer Natalie Imbruglia said she’d never met an Aboriginal person in a fascinating opening episode of the second season of First Contact.

The SBS reality show takes six apparently well-known Australians on a journey into indigenous Australia, with often confronting results.

Former Miss Universe contestant Ayris joined singer Natalie Imbruglia, former Australian Idol judge Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson and ex-One Nation deputy David Oldfield on a trip that began in the remote town of Kununurra in the Kimberley – 4000km west of Sydney.

Oldfield, Imbruglia and Ayris listen during a traditional ceremony. Photo: SBS

A number of contestants, including Imbruglia, admitted to having a less-than-impressive knowledge of Australia’s first people, while Ayris admitted her only contact with Aboriginals had been negative.

“I’m scared of Aboriginal people,” the Perth native said.

“I feel like they have an attitude towards me,” she added, recalling having been “spat on” and “completely abused” by indigenous people in the past.

“I don’t know much about Aboriginal culture at all, to be honest. I’ve heard of the Dreamtime but I couldn’t really tell you what it is … what is it?” she asked producers.

Meanwhile, singer Natalie Imbruglia admitted she had never had a conversation with an Aboriginal person.

“I could count on one hand the amount I’ve seen in the distance in the street,” she admitted.

“I carry a lot of guilt and a lot of shame around the issue, for sure.”

City Homicide actress Nicki Wendt admitted she was scared to go on the show.

“I’ve been scared about it for a few weeks,” she said.

The first of three episodes took contestants through a series of confronting visits, including to a shelter for alcoholics and a support group for families affected by suicide.

Predictably, Pauline Hanson’s former right-hand man Oldfield provided the episode’s most inflammatory moments, with the former politician admitting from the outset he did not see any point in the traditional Aboriginal way of life continuing.

“Frankly, it should have died out, like the stone age died out,” Oldfield said, grating especially with comedian Tom Ballard.

Asked if he respected the culture, Oldfield responded: “It’s a tough question”. Photo: SBS

 ‘We’re going to smell different’

Wendt said her concept of Aboriginal life was “the cliche of the guy in the flannel shirt, and thongs and beanie going straight to the bottle shop”.

“We have different priorities … I brush my teeth and floss twice a day,” Wendt said frankly.

“I have had racist thoughts about Aboriginal people, yes.”

But Wendt was left overwhelmed and in tears after experiencing a traditional indigenous dance ceremony with local Aboriginal elder Timmy ‘Djawa’ Burarrwanga.

“These are happy tears,” Wendt told Burarrwanga as they shared a hug.

Oldfield and the Aboriginal elder

Oldfield’s outright refusal to follow Burarrwanga into the water for a traditional fishing session in Bawaka, East Arnhem Land, proved the most unsettling moment of the show.

Clearly offended, Burarrwanga asked the former politician if he “accepted” the Aboriginal culture.

Dicko said he was concerned he would discover he was a “big racist”. Photo: SBS

“I’m happy for you, but it’s not for me,” Oldfield told the elder, with Ballard looking on uncomfortably.

“I accepted your law. This country is so racist,” Burarrwanga replied.

The confrontation only intensified a little later when Oldfield shot down Ballard for referring to Aboriginal Australians as “the oldest civilisation in the world”.

“You need to look up the meaning of that word – it wasn’t a civilisation,” Oldfield said.

“They were a hunter-gatherer society.”

Eventually, a small moment of catharsis was offered when Oldfield – who originally refused traditional Aboriginal face paint – allowed Burarrwanga to decorate him after the pair bonded over both losing their fathers.

“It wasn’t about being white or black … it was about being a son,” Oldfield explained.