Australia's First Nations ambassador would be axed on "day one" of a coalition government, Peter Dutton has pledged.
Describing the role as a "waste of money," the opposition leader said the nation had "higher priorities".
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"If it is the 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," Mr Dutton told 2GB radio on Monday.
Goreng Goreng man Justin Mohamed is currently appointed as First Nations Peoples Ambassador.
Ambassador Mohamed has travelled to several Pacific nations to speak about First Nations issues including Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and several times to the United States.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the visits which include the US, Switzerland, Vanuatu and Dubai add up to $350,000.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said she was disappointed by Peter Dutton's criticisms of the First Nations ambassador role.
“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.
"He divides us at home and, frankly, he diminishes us in the world," Senator Wong said.
Peter Dutton said the ambassador's postion was a "watse of money". Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
"It's the only position of its nature in the world," he said.
"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."
A federal election must be held by late May next year.
