The peak body for Indigenous community-controlled health organisations in Victoria says Peter Dutton is using Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as a culture war smokescreen.
The comments by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) are the latest in a series of condemnations of the opposition leader, who told Sky News on Monday night of his plan to no longer fly the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags at press conferences if he becomes Prime Minister.
Mr Dutton, who walked out of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to members of the Stolen Generations in 2008, told the conservative channel on Monday, "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 comment was labelled "baffling" by VACCHO, with chief executive Dr Jill Gallagher arguing Mr Dutton is promoting the "very division he is pretending to address".
She argued all Australians should "take pride" in the fact the country has the oldest living culture in the world.
"A vibrant and rich culture that is 65,000 years strong – a culture we should all feel proud to have access to," she said.
"Rather than ignore our history, we should stand up and be proud of Indigenous culture, because it is a gift for all Australians."
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 $20 million 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.
VACCHO said the comments came as "no surprise," arguing Mr Dutton has a "long history of pursuing relevance" by walking Indigenous people and culture.
Dr Gallagher was one of the leading voices in the Treaty movement in Victoria, playing a significant role in the establishment of the First Peoples' Assembly, which has been decided as unrepresentative by the opposition spokesperson for Indigenous affairs, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
She argued the opposition leader should spend more time in Indigenous communities to learn about what "all Australians have been asking for," citing schooling and cost of living issues.
"Mr Dutton's comments only create further confusion and division in this country at a time when we should be coming together as one," Dr Gallagher said.
On Tuesday, Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said Mr Dutton was proving himself unfit to be a future Prime Minister.
"Yet again, he's seeking to divide Australians and grab a few culture war headlines," Senator McCarthy said.
