Prominent Indigenous leader Warren Mundine has echoed growing calls for Anthony Albanese to stop dividing Australia on the international stage.
The Prime Minister raised eyebrows earlier this week during his visit to China, where he held several press conferences in front of three flags – the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island ones.
The gesture sparked outrage back home, where outspoken commentators and radio shock jocks reignited debate to make Australia’s national flag more inclusive.
Mr Mundine has accused Albanese of dividing the country with the display of the three flags overseas.
‘I thought that it was a disgrace,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘He’s on the international stage.
‘I’m a proud Aboriginal and I love my Aboriginal flag. But it’s our flag, nobody else’s!’
‘He’s the Prime Minister and he should be standing next to one flag, the Australian one.
‘Aboriginal soldiers fought for our country under the Australian flag.’
Warren Mundine (pictured with Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price) has called on the Prime Minister to stop dividing Australians
Anthony Albanese addressed reporters in front of the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags after attending the Steel Decarbonisation Roundtable in Shanghai on Monday
Albanese has displayed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the Australian one at every press conference since he won power in 2022, including his election night victory speech when he was re-elected in May.
Prime ministers before him only ever displayed the Australian flag.
‘What has it done for the Aboriginal people?’ Mundine said.
‘Money would be better spent on youth, crime and actually fixing issues.
‘It’s about time that he started bringing Australia together, instead of dividing everyone.’
Mundine admitted that the Australian flag has grown on him over the years and doesn’t think any changes to make it more inclusive will happen in his lifetime.
He used New Zealand as an example, where 56.6 per cent of Kiwis voted in favour of keeping the same flag in a 2016 referendum.
The 18-month process, driven by then-Prime Minister John Key, cost $NZ26 million.
The display of three flags from Australia in China raised eyebrows back home
‘We have a national flag, whether people like it or not,’ Mundine said.
‘Every time the debate comes up, they can’t get the model right.’
‘We live in one of the best countries in the world. Let’s start coming together and celebrating it.’
Sky News hosts Chris Kenny and Danica De Giorgio also slammed Mr Albanese over displaying the three flags on the international stage.
‘Why? He’s representing one nation, our nation overseas,’ Kenny said.
‘This is identity politics on steroids – a gesture that can only confuse anyone watching on from China. It’s a step too far.’
De Giorgio added: ‘Why have we got the Prime Minister of our country going over to a different country, standing in front of three different flags?
‘It should be the Australian flag only; you’re representing one country. ‘You’re overseas representing Australia.’
‘He’s the Prime Minister and he should be standing next to one flag, the Australian one,’ Warren Mundine told Daily Mail Australia
The backlash from Aussies online was just as brutal.
‘I’m sure that Australia’s got to be the only bloody country in the world to have three flags,’ one wrote.
Another added: ‘We only have one national flag. The other two have no relevance in another country. Albanese should be ashamed of himself.’
