The Australian flag became the centre of a heated Senate standoff on Wednesday after Country Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was ordered to remove the national symbol she had draped across her shoulders while addressing the chamber.
Senator Price, the opposition’s defence industry spokeswoman, wore the flag in recognition of Flag Day, marking 124 years since the banner was first flown. In her speech, she urged Australians to reclaim pride in the flag, while acknowledging both the nation’s achievements and its darker chapters.
“When we look at our flag, we remember our history in the round,” Senator Price said. “Yes, we remember the dark chapters, like the mistreatment of Indigenous Australians and returned Vietnam veterans, but we also recognise that our achievements and successes far outweigh our wrongdoings and failures.”
But the address was cut short when Greens senator Nick McKim raised a point of order, arguing the flag breached Senate rules against props. He warned that allowing it could open the door for political displays of other flags, including the Palestinian flag.
Acting Senate president Slade Brockman upheld the objection, asking Senator Price to continue her remarks without the flag. “We do not want to set a precedent in this place that would have very unfortunate consequences for the future,” he said.
A furious Senator Price accused the Greens of hypocrisy, noting that symbolic attire such as the keffiyeh was permitted. “So disappointing from the Greens, but also so typical,” she said. “Yes, snark all you like, it’s revolting.”
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson later repeated the act, draping herself in the flag before she too was told to remove it. “It is not a prop; the Australian flag flies in our chamber,” she said, conceding only “with reluctance”.
The spat comes amid renewed debate over the place of the flag in national politics. More than a dozen March for Australia rallies held last weekend prominently featured the flag, drawing backlash after organisers were linked to far-right and neo-Nazi groups.
Senator Price used her speech to call for tougher laws against desecrating the national symbol, condemning recent footage of protesters burning the flag in Melbourne. “Like most Australians, I was appalled,” she said. “We need to push this government to do the right thing … it should be a criminal offence.”
Outside Parliament, she doubled down, posting a video of herself once again draped in the flag. “I’m proud to wear this flag, even though the Greens would push to have me remove it in the Senate,” she said. “That just demonstrates just how un-Australian they are.”
Under Senate rules, props – including flags – are generally prohibited in the chamber.
Images: Sky News
