Opposition leader Peter Dutton has said if he is elected Prime Minister, he will only display the Australian flag at press conferences, arguing flying the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags would be "dividing our country unnecessarily" and sending a "confusing message".
Mr Dutton, who walked out of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to members of the Stolen Generations in 2008 and played a significant role in the defeat of the Voice referendum last year, told Sky News' the country only has one national ensign.
The National Museum of Australia states: "Australia's national flags – the blue ensign, the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag – are important symbols."
Mr Dutton said "we are a country united under one flag and if we're asking people to identify with different flags, no other country does that, and we are dividing our country unnecessarily".
The Opposition Leader also reiterated his support for celebrating Invasion Day, January 26, as Australia's national day.
"We are united as a country when we gather under one flag, which is what we should do on Australia Day," he said.
In response, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said: "Whether you stand in front of the flags or not has no impact on non-Indigenous Australians or their rights - nor does it cost anything to keep the flags in place."
"Indigenous peoples do have a right to have their identity recognised - and arguments about 'symbolism' are ok when led by certain groups but not ok when led by others…," the commissioner wrote on social media.
"This is petty/divisive/ unsophisticated politics - surely being a government that addresses Indigenous disadvantage, generations of policy failure and eradicates racism (in all its forms) is what should be election commitments expected by those who put themselves forward to lead the country."
Commissioner Kiss added: "This is whitewashing our nation's history and promoting - through politics - the denial of 65,000 years of Australian (our collective) history - and assimilation and integration - old approach - new strategy."
According to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian flags include the Aboriginal flag, the Torres Strait Islander flag, as well as many other ensigns used in defence and civilian organisations.
The Morrison government paid more than $20million to obtain the copyright to the flag in 2022, which was designed by Luritja artist Harold Thomas and first flown at a land rights rally in Adelaide in 1971.
The flag was first recognised as a national emblem by Prime Minister Paul Keating in the 1990s which has been upheld by subsequent governments, including those featuring Mr Dutton as a minister.
Labor MP Josh Burns told ABC RN Mr Dutton is "a guy who loves to divide".
"We have three official flags in this country, the Australian flag, the Aboriginal flag, and the Torres Strait Islander flag. I've always been proud to stand in front of all three of them," he said.
"I think that our country is better for having a rich history, for recognising the history of the First Nations people.
"Certainly, you know, the Jewish community and Jewish community leaders have always stood proudly with First Nations people … And if Peter Dutton wants to play these sorts of culture wars, well, that shows what sort of prime minister he wants to be."
Mr Dutton's comments came after Shadow Minister for Indigenous affairs, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, said everyone was "getting sick" of Welcome to Country ceremonies, arguing some groups did it solely for financial reasons.
