Opposition leader Peter Dutton has declared welcome to country ceremonies are 'overdone' and should be reserved for major events such as the opening of parliament, igniting a culture war in the final week of Australia's election campaign. Speaking during Sunday night's leaders' debate, Dutton argued the ceremonies were dividing the nation, similar to the 2023 voice to parliament referendum.
Dutton condemned the booing of the ceremonies at the Anzac dawn service on Friday but said that for 'the start of every meeting at work, or the start of a football game, I think other Australians think it is overdone and cheapens the significance.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese countered that it was up to individual organisations to decide, describing the ceremonies as 'a matter of respect.'
Both leaders supported Australia Day remaining on 26 January. Dutton also called for schools to stop teaching a version of history that 'says that our children should be ashamed of being Australian,' adding that while mistakes have been made, 'we cannot live with that shame forever.'
The debate, hosted by 7News with a panel of 60 undecided voters, saw 50% back Albanese, 25% Dutton, and 25% undecided. The leaders clashed over cost-of-living policies, with Dutton labelling Labor's tax cuts a 'Band-Aid on a bullet wound' and Albanese noting Coalition promises would 'disappear in a year's time.'
