'Waste of money': Opposition leader Peter Dutton vows to axe Australia’s First Nations ambassador if elected
Australia’s First Nations ambassador would be axed on “day one” of a coalition government, Peter Dutton has pledged.
Describing the role as a “waste of money,” the opposition leader said the nation had “higher priorities”.
“If it is the case that we win the next election, that position will be abolished on day one, and that money will be spent to help Australians who are struggling at the moment to keep a roof over their head, or to pay their electricity bill,” Mr Dutton told 2GB radio on Monday.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.First Nations Peoples Ambassador Justin Mohamed has taken nine overseas trips, with taxpayers forking out more than $100,000 on business class flights, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The visits which include the US, Switzerland, Vanuatu and Dubai add up to $350,000.
Mr Dutton said no one could point to what the position had achieved.
“It’s the only position of its nature in the world,” he said.
“It’ll be a very different way of governing if we win the next election. But at the moment, the waste, I think, is just frustrating and annoying people because they haven’t got enough money in their own budget, but they’ve got the prime minister flying this guy around the world business class, doing I don’t know what.”
A federal election must be held by late May next year.
