Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has expressed his views on the use of three flags for official events by the country’s leader, indicating his preference against flying the national and Aboriginal flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
On Dec. 12, Dutton stated that the decision ultimately rests with the New South Wales government.
“We’ll collaborate with the state governments, and the state government has chosen to hoist the flag there, but from our federal standpoint, I cannot ignore the fact that our country cannot be unified when we are encouraging people to identify in different ways,” he shared on Channel 7’s Sunrise program.
“I believe it is a matter for the state government, and my inclination would be to acknowledge that we have one national flag that takes precedence, but ultimately the decision lies with the New South Wales government.”
Dutton emphasized the significance of unity, highlighting that Australia is facing a breakdown in social cohesion.
“The question is, how can we be united as a nation if we are urging people to identify under different flags?” he questioned.
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“No other country does that, no other Western democracy does that, so I believe very strongly that we should have an enormous amount of respect for the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander flags, but they are not our national flag and I want practical reconciliation.”
“I want kids in Alice Springs to live in a safe environment, to have a good health system and go to school.”
This would reverse the current practice by Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who stands before three flags—the national, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander flags—during official press conferences.
“To some, this change may have seemed insignificant. To others, it immediately symbolized another step towards greater inclusion,” remarked assistant minister to the prime minister, Patrick Gorman.
“A reminder of where we are as a nation, and where we can walk to together,” Gorman wrote in the West Australian newspaper.
Meanwhile, Dutton also urged for the elimination of division in society.
“We have an incredible migrant story in this country, we should be discussing it more,” he voiced. “We should be very proud of our Indigenous heritage, but I do not believe that serving under three flags can unite the country.”
The Epoch Times reached out to New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich for their comments.
Polling Challenges
Dutton’s plea for social cohesion comes at a time when Prime Minister Albanese is facing tougher polling outcomes.
The latest Newspoll results this week revealed that Albanese had the lowest rating of an incumbent Australian prime minister in the poll’s 16-year history, with social unrest being a key factor.
On the other hand, Dutton’s Newspoll ranking was the highest of any opposition leader in the past decade.
However, despite Albanese’s low rating, the poll still indicates him as the more popular leader compared to Dutton.
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