Opposition leader also claims school curriculum is teaching children to be ‘ashamed’ of being Australian, amid some angry exchanges

• Polls tracker; election guide; full federal election coverage
• Anywhere but Canberra; interactive electorates guide
• Listen to the latest episode of our new narrative podcast series: Gina

Peter Dutton has said welcome to country ceremonies are “overdone” and should be limited to major events such as the opening of parliament, stoking a culture war at the start of the final week of the election campaign.

At the final leaders’ debate of the campaign on Sunday night, the opposition leader and the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, were pressed on their view of the ceremonies after a small group of people – including known neo-Nazis – booed them during the Anzac dawn service on Friday.

Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter