Moment Peter Dutton LOSES IT over simple question about how he plans to spend Australia Day

Peter Dutton has exploded after being asked a simple question about Australia Day, slamming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as ‘unhinged’ and ‘weak’.

When asked if he would be attending a national Australia Day event in Canberra, the furious Opposition leader unequivocally ruled it out. 

‘No, I won’t. No,’ he said, appearing exasperated by the question. 

Asked why not, Mr Dutton explained: ‘Well, it’s not the tradition, firstly. And I know the Prime Minister carries on with this, but frankly I think the Prime Minister is pretty unhinged in some of his comments at the moment. 

‘And not much of it’s based in fact. So I wouldn’t look at the political stunts, I’d look at the values that he’s presiding over, because he’s seeking distractions.

‘He divided the country with The Voice and spent $500million which was wasted. He has divided our country since then.

‘The Australia Day episode and the way in which he’s tried to walk both sides of the street is another example of it.’

The annual debate over the January 26 date of Australia Day – which some Indigenous people call ‘Invasion Day’ – is once again reaching boiling point.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton (pictured) has exploded in anger when asked a question about Australia Day, slamming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as ‘unhinged’ and ‘weak’

The annual debate over the January 26 date of Australia Day - which some Indigenous people call 'Invasion Day' - is again reaching boiling point (pictured, Australia Day on the Gold Coast)

The annual debate over the January 26 date of Australia Day – which some Indigenous people call ‘Invasion Day’ – is again reaching boiling point (pictured, Australia Day on the Gold Coast)

Mr Dutton said if the Coalition wins the upcoming federal election, he would consider legislating to permanently recognise January 26 as Australia Day.

‘I’m happy to look at the suggestion and happy to make sure that we continue to be proud of who we are as a country,’ he said.

‘If people don’t want to celebrate Australia Day, that’s entirely their choice. I’m comfortable with that and relaxed with it. That’s their decision. 

‘But I don’t want to be told by woke CEOs and a weak Prime Minister that I can’t celebrate Australia Day.’

Mr Dutton also wants to rescind the government’s policy of allowing councils to opt out of holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

That policy was changed by the Albanese government in 2022, leading to 81 councils refusing to hold official ceremonies on Australia Day in 2024. 

Mr Albanese said his local council holds citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day and confirmed he will attend National Australia Day commemorations this year. 

‘I hope that Peter Dutton this year makes the choice to join the National Australia Day celebrations in Canberra. That’s what I did as the Opposition leader,’ he said. 

Mr Albanese (pictured) said his local council holds citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day and confirmed he will attend National Australia Day commemorations this year

Mr Albanese (pictured) said his local council holds citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day and confirmed he will attend National Australia Day commemorations this year

But Mr Dutton said Mr Albanese panders to woke, urban voters over Australia Day.

‘The Prime Minister… has made decisions which he thinks will be popular with left inner city Green voters because in his seat he’s most at risk from the Greens,’ he said.

‘That’s what seems to dominate the Prime Minister’s every thought.

‘But unfortunately for people in Ipswich and across Blair, across the Somerset region and in outer metropolitan areas across the country, this Prime Minister has forgotten them.’

Mr Dutton also spoke about why he believes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags should be removed from press conferences held by Coalition MPs.

‘I have a great deal of respect for the Indigenous flag and for the Torres Strait Islander flag, but they are not the national flags,’ he said.

The election – expected to be held in April or May – is on a knife-edge, with Labor and the Coalition tied at 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis in the latest polls.

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