The Coalition wants to make flag burning a crime. It’s a revival of a decades-old battle
Flag politics and Australia Day debates are shaping up to be key themes in conservative political discourse in the months ahead.
The Coalition has announced plans to criminalise flag burning and desecration of war memorials, a policy aimed at "protecting and defending our national day, our national flag and our war memorials". This move is reminiscent of a long-standing battle between the right-wing factions in Australian politics. The issue has been a prominent theme for populist right-wing groups, such as Advance and the Murdoch media, and is also a key focus for the right-wing digital campaigning organisation Advance.
Former chief of staff to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Peta Credlin, warns that failure to address these issues could result in a significant shift in Australian politics. This resurgence of flag and Australia Day politics signals that conservative politicians are keen to appeal to patriotism and compete with One Nation on issues of national pride.
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