Australian news and politics live: Peter Dutton’s Arana Hills office attacked for third time across campaign

Ken Wyatt, who was the first Indigenous person to hold the Indigenous affairs portfolio federally, said there was a misunderstanding around what a Welcome to Country was.

“There are people who may have perceptions about what Welcome to Country means, and they think it’s about welcoming to Australia. It is not,” he told ABC’s Radio National.

“It is about, as I indicated, being welcomed into somebody’s home or somebody’s homeland or somebody’s community.”

He said politicians should stay out of cultural practices and that political debate on the issue didn’t help the nation’s harmony.

Asked whether Peter Dutton was politicising the issue, he said, “By his continuous comments, Peter is.”

“Look, I’ve worked with Peter. I’ve had some great conversations with Peter on many issues, but on this one, if I had the chance to have a conversation with him, I’d say, pull back on this,” he said.

“I’m disappointed with anybody who doesn’t take the time to understand the importance of friendship, welcoming and acknowledging that you are part of a community and you’re being welcomed into somebody’s home country, home region.

“To politicise it just adds to the division.”

A couple of former Liberal politicians have weighed in on the debate around when a Welcome to Country is appropriate.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has told 2GB radio he thinks it’s become “an exercise in virtue signalling” and said he had always had a “fundamental problem” with the practice.

“It’s become a badge of political correctness. It’s become a political statement, a bit like wearing masks became a political statement during the pandemic,” he said.

“I think what happened on the 26th of January, 1788 was wonderful. It was the beginning of the great country that we know as Australia. It was the eruption of the modern onto an ancient continent.

“It’s something to be celebrated.

“What happened on the 26th of January 1788 was that the rule of law, notions of freedom, notions of equality, came to a country that previously didn’t have anything like the same thing, and every Australian, including Indigenous Australians, have benefited from that.

“And sure, the history hasn’t been perfect. No one’s history is. But on balance, it’s something that every Australian should be immensely proud of.”

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has taken aim at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in an ABC interview on Tuesday.

When quizzed about Mr Dutton’s recent comments on Welcome to Country ceremonies after Anzac Day Dawn Services were disrupted, Ms Gallagher hit out.

“I think, you know, the issue that Peter Dutton has raised in the last couple of days is to distract away from the train wreck of a campaign they’re having and also the fact that they don’t want to talk about nuclear, and he’s got form on this.”

“We see it (Welcome to Country) as a measure of respect.

“We’re very proud of the fact that we share this land with the world’s oldest continuous culture.

“I see that organisations, who do make their own decisions about whether to have a Welcome to Country ceremony at the beginning of events have come out and, you know, not only did Peter Dutton verbal the Indonesian Prime Minister, it now appears the many RSL organisations as well.”

Queensland Police have charged an 18-year-old woman in relation to the alleged vandalism of Peter Dutton’s Arana Hills office.

Police were called to a street in Mitchelton at around 2.30am on Tuesday follow reports of four people “acting suspiciously”.

The vehicle fled but racking dogs located a woman in Leslie Patrick Park.

After locating the woman, fradditi on Mr Dutton’s office was discovered.

“An 18-year-old Chapel Hill woman has been charged with one count of wilful damage and is expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on May 20,” a Queensland Police spokesperson said.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s office is Arana Hills has been vandalised for the third time during the Federal election campaign.

Red paint was splashed over windows and the brick, with signs stuck to the building’s exterior.

Speaking from the scene, Sunrise reporter Georgie Chumbley said: “This is the third time that this office has been targeted in just three weeks.”

“Red paint splashed all over the doors, all over the scene, all over Peter Dutton’s face here.

“Some of the paint, there’s so much of it that some of it is still wet.

“There have been posters that have been plastered along the walls here and a sign spray-painted along the ground. An incredible act of vandalism.”

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor, just four days out from the Federal election, says the Coalition’s costings will come “in the next couple of days”.

The vague answer, given on Channel 7’s Sunrise, comes after Labor shared its costings on Monday.

“You will see them in the next couple of days, and (the) preview is (that) you will see a stronger budget position than Labor’s costings yesterday,” Mr Taylor said.

“Deficits as far as the eye can see. We are on our way to $2.3 trillion of debt and our credit rating is at risk now,” he said about Labor’s costings.

“That means that every Australian will pay more than before.

“That is exactly what Labor have done. You will see a stronger budget and lower tax (with the Coalition).

“We will support small businesses. That is what Australia needs right now”.

Peter Dutton is running out of runway in his bid to win the election, but a rise in protest votes against major parties could see his prime ministerial aspirations get off the ground.

With four days until polls close, the opposition leader is seeking to defy the national polls in a come-from-behind victory to become Australia’s 32nd prime minister, as he blitzes marginal seats.

While Mr Dutton is facing a considerable challenge to unseat Anthony Albanese, former media chief to Scott Morrison turned consultant Andrew Carswell said a path to victory was still possible for the coalition.

“The path is narrow, though it’s narrowing by the day, but I think the best most can do is ignore the established polls out there at the moment, because what we’ll see on Saturday will be out of step,” he told AAP.

“While Labor is very much the short odds to be in minority government, it will be closer than people think.”

A Roy Morgan poll on Monday showed Labor remained on track to form a majority government, leading 53 to 47 per cent on a two-party preferred basis despite a slight improvement in the coalition’s position.

Despite Mr Carswell saying a majority government is “awfully difficult” for the coalition to achieve, a rise in support for right-wing minor parties could flow back to the opposition.

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