Dear Ms Mettam,

I write to you as a Wadandi custodian and constituent in your electorate, and as someone deeply concerned about your recent decision to follow Peter Dutton's stance in refusing to stand before the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

These flags are not mere symbols - they are recognised official flags of our continent and represent the world's oldest continuing cultures. They represent peoples who have cared for and maintained deep connection to Country for over 65,000 years. Your refusal to acknowledge these flags sends a devastating message to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Western Australia and across the continent.

Your position as Leader of the Opposition carries significant responsibility. When you choose to dismiss these important symbols of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sovereignty and identity, you perpetuate the very colonial attitudes that continue to harm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. This harm, stemming from racist ideology, manifests in ongoing systemic racism, inequality and intergenerational trauma.

I must ask - what message do you believe this sends to the Wadandi and Bibbulmun peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the lands within your electorate? How does this align with the Liberal Party's stated commitment to "closing the gap"? How does this foster the reconciliation and truth-telling that our continent so desperately needs? How is this not divisive?

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags fly proudly alongside the Australian flag as symbols of survival, strength and ongoing connection to Country. They represent peoples, like my family, who have endured dispossession, genocide and ongoing colonial violence, yet we continue to share our culture, knowledge and wisdom with all Australians.

Your stance appears to reflect a concerning pattern within the Liberal Party of dismissing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, perspectives and experiences. This was evident in your party's opposition to the Voice referendum, and now manifests in this symbolic rejection of flags that mean so much to so many.

I strongly urge you to reconsider your position. True leadership requires acknowledging uncomfortable truths about Australia's history and working towards genuine reconciliation. Standing before these flags doesn't diminish your role or authority - rather, it demonstrates respect for the people who have been here for millennia, and recognition of our continuing existence and sovereignty.

As your constituent, I request a response addressing these concerns. How do you plan to meaningfully engage with Aboriginal peoples in our electorate given this stance? What steps will you take to demonstrate that your leadership includes all Western Australians, including those whose flags you refuse to acknowledge?

Yours sincerely,

Renae Isaacs-Guthridge

Renae Isaacs-Guthridge is a Wadandi custodian and also proudly connected to Country across the Noongar and Yamatji Nations. She is an experienced educator and a university academic.