Liberal MP gives Indigenous flags to school after Dutton vows national roll back

A Liberal backbencher has made a surprising move after Peter Dutton’s controversial election pledge to roll back Indigenous flags.

A Liberal MP has given Indigenous flags to a primary school in her electorate after Peter Dutton pledged to roll them back nationally if he wins next year’s federal election.

Jenny Ware, who represents the south Sydney seat of Hughes, said in a social media video that “it was a great privilege” to present Como West Public with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at the school’s awards day last week.

Liberal MP Jenny Ware has given has given Indigenous flags to a primary school in her electorate after Peter Dutton pledged to roll them back nationally if he wins next year’s federal election. Picture: Facebook

“Como West Public School, thank you so much for having me down here today at your presentation day,” she said in the video.

“It was a real privilege to see all of the fabulous awards that so many children received.

“Obviously, you had a fantastic year down here, and it was a great privilege as well for me to present flags for the school.

“Thank you so much for flying the Australian, the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Island flags.

“To everyone at Como West ... have a wonderful, happy and safe Christmas and power on into 2025 down here at Como West.”

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Ms Ware posted the video just two days after Mr Dutton, her party leader, said he would never address the country while flanked by the Indigenous flags.

The opposition leader said the three flags “divides people unnecessarily” and ultimately Australia only has one national ensign.

“I’m very strongly of the belief that we are a country united under one flag and if we’re asking people to identify with different flags, no other country does that, and we are dividing our country unnecessarily,” he told Sky News at the time.

Amid broad backlash, Mr Dutton later doubled down on his stance in the days following, saying he would work with the NSW government to remove the Aboriginal flag from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says flying the Indigenous flags ‘divides people unnecessarily’. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

But that decision lies firmly with the state government.

Indigenous leaders have condemned Mr Dutton’s pledge, with Uluru Dialogue co-chair Pat Anderson calling it “deeply disappointing and disturbing”.

“This is yet another remark from a man who’s made a career of using First Nations matters to not only invoke hatred but as a deliberate and inflammatory political move in his quest for the top job,” she said.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags have featured prominently at national events since the Albanese government came to power in 2022.

It is one of several efforts to better represent Indigenous Australians, who are the most incarcerated group of people on Earth, and have significantly shorter life expectancies than their non-Indigenous counterparts.

Mr Dutton has been critical of most of the measures, including the failed Voice referendum, which would have set up a body to advise parliament on Indigenous issues.

NewsWire has contacted Mr Dutton for comment.

Originally published as Liberal MP gives Indigenous flags to school after Dutton vows national roll back