In a move that’s sparked controversy, Peter Dutton has announced that he won’t display both the Australian and Indigenous flags behind him at press conferences if he becomes Prime Minister.
The Opposition Leader believes that the practice “divides people unnecessarily” and instead wants Australians to unite under one flag.
One Flag, One Nation
Dutton’s stance is clear: he wants Australia to be a country united under one flag. He doesn’t believe in having multiple flags that identify different groups, arguing that no other country does it. “We should have respect for the Indigenous flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag, but they are not our national flags,” he said in an interview with Sky News.
A Divided Country?
Dutton’s comments have sparked debate, with some accusing him of being out of touch with Indigenous Australians. But the Opposition Leader is standing firm, saying that the current approach is divisive. “We are united as a country when we gather under one flag, which is what we should do on Australia Day,” he said.
The Indigenous Flag Controversy
This isn’t the first time Dutton has waded into controversy surrounding the Indigenous flag. Last year, he sparked outrage when he called for a boycott of Woolworths after the supermarket giant announced it would stop stocking Australia Day merchandise. Labor accused him of being out of touch and not focused on more pressing issues like cost of living.
Rolling Back Welcome to Country Ceremonies
Dutton’s Indigenous Australians spokeswoman, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, has also been making waves by pushing to roll back Welcome to Country ceremonies. She argues that some people are making a living from delivering these ceremonies, and it’s become a commercialization of culture.
The Indigenous Voice to Parliament
The Indigenous voice to parliament proposal has been a contentious issue, with the Coalition and Labor having differing views on how to implement it. Dutton and Price were vocal critics of the proposal, citing a lack of detail and practical outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Labor’s Response
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has slammed the Opposition’s decision to oppose the voice, citing a lack of bipartisanship as a key reason for the referendum’s failure last year. However, he respects the will of the Australian people.
Migrant History and Heritage
Dutton believes that Australia needs to do a better job of recognizing its migrant history when celebrating its heritage. “Our migrant story, the incredible story of people who came here, particularly in the post Second World War period, with nothing… We’re a great country today because of that,” he said.
Migration Policy
Dutton has also defended his plans to slash net overseas migration, saying that the policy remains unchanged. The original plan was to cut migration to 160,000 next financial year, but Dutton now says that number will be revisited when the Coalition comes to government.