Indigenous Liberal Party candidate for the inner-city electorate of Macnamara in Melbourne, Benson Saulo, has called for unity before the national Australian flag.
Last month, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced that, if elected, he would no longer conduct official press conferences in front of three flags, eschewing the Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander flags.
The practice of standing before three symbols began with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, while Greens Leader Adam Bandt has previously refused to stand in front of the Australian national flag.
“I think a lot of us are fortunate to be born here, and a few are fortunate enough to make the decision to come here,” Saulo told The Epoch Times, in response to questions about honouring tradition.
“We’re all Australians, and we should be proud of that. And I think that’s what is really missing in this discussion when the Left attacks ANZAC Day, the flag, or the anthem.
“They’re trying to do away with these symbols that actually connect us. If we deny symbolism, we deny our own history.”
Saulo is vying for the very progressive federal seat of Macnamara against Labor’s Josh Burns where the Greens registered a higher primary vote than the Liberal Party at the last election.
The electorate is located south of the electorate of Melbourne—held by Greens Leader Bandt—and encompasses Port Phillip City Council, part of Glen Eira City Council, Melbourne City Council, and part of Stonnington City Council.
The traditional “Left” refers to progressive movements that embraced broader social welfare programs and equality, however, in more recent decades, the movement has been hijacked by radical ideologies.
Celebrate the ‘Wonderful Things’ About Australia: Saulo
Saulo also said Australians should be proud to celebrate Australia Day on Jan. 26 as protestors from the “Invasion Day” and “pro-Palestine” movement prepare to converge on Melbourne CBD.“My personal stance is I’ve always been a supporter of Australia Day, and I deeply understand the complexity of it,” Saulo said.
“But we have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, we have Western institutions, and we have a multicultural future. We really should be celebrating the wonderful things that Australia is,” he added.
Labor Again Accuses Dutton of Engaging in ‘Culture Wars’
Last month, Labor’s Indigenous Minister Malarndirri McCarthy accused Dutton of “dividing” the country with his pledge.“Peter Dutton is once again proving himself unfit to be prime minister,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Yet again, he’s seeking to divide Australians and grab a few culture war headlines.
“The Australian Aboriginal Flag and Torres Strait Islander Flag were proclaimed flags of Australia under Section 5 of the Flags Act 1953 on 14 July 1995.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is the oldest continuing culture in the world, and I believe all Australians should take great pride in that.”
Former Indigenous Minister Linda Burney also criticised Dutton’s pledge.
“Peter Dutton is the man who walked out on the apology to the Stolen Generations,” she wrote on social media.
“This is the man who gave no support to the referendum. He refuses to offer bipartisan support on all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and justice issues.
Dealing With the ‘Now’, Not the Past
In response, Saulo said it was important not to get bogged down by the past.“You learn history so you never repeat it. And so there is an element here that we do need to understand the impacts of colonisation in our history,” he said.
“But to suggest that we can change history is an absolute falsehood. It’s only what we can shape tomorrow.
“So that’s what we need to be focused on. I’m an Aboriginal with three young kids. We’re focused on their futures.”
He also said Australians should not let sensitivities around race influence policy aimed at dealing with issues in Indigenous communities.
“I always find it hard for people who live in major cities to make judgements on what’s happening in remote communities,” Saulo said, in reference to the central Australian town of Alice Springs, which has endured well publicised issues of violence and burglaries by youths.
“With [Shadow Indigenous Minister Jacinta Price], she’s from the community and she understands what’s going on.
“The issues around domestic violence, drugs and alcohol—we need to respond to the people who are most at risk.
Uphill Battle Ahead
A Liberal Party candidate has never won the Labor heartland seat of Macnamara—previously known as Melbourne Ports—at an Australian federal election.But Saulo says voters want change, as reflected by the Make Port Phillip Safer walk earlier in the week attended by several hundred people tired of rising crime.
“For over 100 years it [the seat of Macnamara] has sat with Labor. And so I think it’s reflective of the fact that we have a march through here at Acland Street around the rising crime rates and a whole range of things,” said Saulo, who also chairs Torch, a charity supporting Indigenous offenders and ex-offenders in Victoria.
“This seat—which has been a safe Labor seat—has been taken for granted and overlooked.
“Kids’ playgrounds are really critical. They’re decaying, ageing and falling apart. Community safety is out of control.
“Really amazing places to be. And unfortunately people don’t want to come here anymore. And it’s under Labor’s watch.”
The Epoch Times contacted Victorian Labor member for Albert Park, Nina Taylor, for comment.
