‘I will abolish First Nations Ambassador role’: Dutton vows to scrap post after $145K bill revelation

The world’s only First Nations People Ambassador — appointed by the Albanese government — took nine overseas trips amassing a huge bill of $145k, prompting Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to declare he will scrap the post if elected.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has vowed to abolish the position of Ambassador for First Nations Peoples if the Coalition wins the next election. 

It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed that the Albanese government approved spending of more than $350,000 last financial year to send its ambassador on nine overseas trips – mostly to the US and Europe.

In March 2023, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and then Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney announced the appointment of Justin Mohamed to the new role, which does not exist anywhere else in the world.

Mr Mohamed’s job description initially said he would “engage regional partners on the Voice, Treaty, Truth process,” but that function has been removed since the Voice referendum was voted down.

Travel expenses released by Senator Wong’s department under freedom of information laws reveal Mr Mohamed’s business class flights in 2023-24 cost more than $100,000.

Mr Dutton argued the funds could be better allocated to pressing economic concerns.

Australia's new First Nations People Ambassador, Justin Mohamed (left) in Geneva in May. Picture: X

“If it is a 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, we’ve got higher priorities at the moment,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Monday morning.  

“The cost of living crisis that Labor has created means that a lot of families over this winter have gone without electricity to power their air conditioning, their heating, and they just can’t afford to eat at the same time, they can do one or the other. 

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton said he’ll scrap the role. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I’m not going to tolerate a situation where we’re wasting taxpayers’ money.”

Mr Mohamed travelled to the US four times and to Switzerland twice, records show. He went to Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea once each.

He also visited the United Arab Emirates. That trip was to “represent First Nations perspectives” at the United Nations climate change conference, COP28. Mr Mohamed’s flights to and from the UAE cost more than $10,000 and his hotel room cost nearly $7000 for a seven-night stay.

His overseas hotel bill last financial year was over $30,000.

DFAT pre-approved spending of up to $358,000 in 2023-24 on the nine overseas trips by Mr Mohamed. Sometimes he was accompanied by a colleague or colleagues from DFAT and this figure includes their travel costs. All of the trips appear to have come in under budget.

Still, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the contrast “could not be more stark” between the spending and the everyday experiences of Australians, especially those of “marginalised Indigenous Australians in remote communities”.

“The Albanese Government needs to explain how these frequent and expensive trips are advancing the interests of Australia and improving outcomes for First Nations people,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.

Justin Mohamed was appointed to his role in March 2023. Picture: Stephen Harman

DFAT said “international engagement by the Ambassador for First Nations People supports DFAT’s strategic priorities to embed First Nations perspectives into Australia’s foreign policy.”

“This has included elevating First Nations involvement in Australia’s trade and investment opportunities, strengthening human rights resolutions at high-level UN forums and securing the historic Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge.”

Australia's First Nations People Ambassador Justin Mohamed (second from left) in Hawaii. Picture: LinkedIn

The FOI request, made by an unknown party, only covered up until June 30.

DFAT said that since then Mr Mohamed has visited the Solomon Islands and Fiji. It is not known if he has gone to any other countries this financial year.

Before becoming First Nations People Ambassador, Mr Mohamed was the deputy secretary for Aboriginal justice in the Victorian government’s Department of Justice and Community Safety. He was previously the state’s Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People.

Ten staff work in Mr Mohamed’s office; eight are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. The office has a four-year budget of $13.6 million.

Mr Mohamed said any questions should be directed to DFAT.

Originally published as ‘I will abolish First Nations Ambassador role’: Dutton vows to scrap post after $145K bill revelation