We'll get rid of costly globetrotting First Nations ambassador on day one, says Dutton

What does a First Nations ambassador do? Nothing meaningful, according to Peter Dutton, and certainly not enough to spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on world trips.

The Opposition Leader has expressed outrage that Australian taxpayers’ money is seemingly being “wasted” on expensive and needless travel by the Federal Government’s first-ever Ambassador for First Nations Peoples.

Mr Dutton has vowed to axe the role on day one of a Coalition government should he win the next federal election.

Gooreng Gooreng man Justin Mohamed, from Bundaberg, Queensland, was appointed to the role early last year with the task of encouraging the addition of a First Nations approach to Australia’s foreign policy.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong explained at the time that the newly created Labor position would add a dedicated Indigenous representation to international engagement.

She said Mr Mohamed would lead the Office of First Nations Engagement in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

His appointment not only marked the first such diplomatic position for Australia, but no other country had a similar role for Indigenous peoples.

Recent media investigations based on Freedom of Information documents, however, show that Mr Mohamed has racked up more than $145,000 on government travel between April 2023 and June this year.

According to a Daily Telegraph report, he has taken nine overseas trips, including to Pacific island nations, the US, Switzerland, Vanuatu and Dubai, with business class flights alone costing more than $100,000.

According to the report, Mr Mohamed’s costs to date total $350,000.

When asked about it, Mr Dutton said: “If it is the case that we win the next election, that position will be abolished on day one.”

The Opposition Leader said the money would be spent to help struggling Australians to keep a roof over their heads or to pay their electricity bills, because the First Nations ambassador role was a pointless waste of money.

“We’ve got higher priorities at the moment and the cost of living crisis that Labor’s 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,” he said.

“I’m not going to tolerate a situation where we’re wasting taxpayers money. People are working harder.

“We know [from] the employment figures last week that many Australians are now taking up second and third jobs just to make their family household budget balance.

“I think this is a waste of money. Nobody can point to what it’s achieved. It’s the only position of its nature in the world and it was all about talking to the Voice and the Makarrata Commission and truth telling.

“Now, the Prime Minister’s got another $20 or $30 million, I think it is, on a Makarrata Commission, which he someday says he’s going to do, and other days he says he’s not. But again, a complete waste of money.

“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.”

Responding to Mr Dutton’s remarks, Senator Wong said the First Nations ambassador role was a valuable one.

She criticised the Opposition Leader’s approach and attitude towards the position.

“It’s disappointing that Mr Dutton doesn’t see a role for Indigenous Australians in representing Australia, and we see again his character on display,” Senator Wong told reporters.

“He divides us at home and, frankly, he diminishes us in the world.”

Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy, during a Sky News interview, said Mr Mohamed was doing good work for the government.

“We’re certainly very pleased to have Ambassador Mohamed travelling the world, in terms of helping First Nations businesses and trade internationally,” Senator McCarthy said.

“We have incredible business opportunities that he’s been able to work with, but also with our Pacific neighbours.”

However, Senator McCarthy could not point to an example of businesses that had secured overseas contracts due to the ambassador’s role.

Mr Mohamed has not commented.