Australia First unfazed by MP's efforts to protect Eureka flag
Updated
The right-wing Australia First Party says it is unfazed by threats of a private members' bill that would protect the Eureka flag from improper use.
The federal Labor Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said she will introduce a private members' bill into Parliament next month pushing for the flag's protection.
It follows an Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) decision to grant the far-right political party, which wants to ban immigration, the right to use the Eureka flag as its emblem.
"It has a very strong connection with revolt, with free labour and independent-type thinking," the party's president Jim Saleam said.
The original Eureka or Southern Cross flag, currently on display in the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka, or MADE, in Ballarat, was erected by gold diggers at the 1854 rebellion known as the Eureka Stockade.
The rebellion was against undemocratic government and the draconian laws associated with the Victorian mining licence system, and resulted in the deaths of 22 diggers and five government troops.
It is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the development of modern democracy in Australia, but the flag itself has been used by both sides of politics since.
Mr Saleam said the AEC had good reason to approve the party's use of the flag.
"A lot of people use the Eureka flag in various ways, some I agree with, some I don't," he said.
"But there is no actual property in the Eureka flag itself. The Eureka flag is a common emblem, used by a lot of community groups and social groups, and other groups.
"Therefore the Electoral Commission was simply following the law."
Ms King, from the Victorian electorate of Ballarat, has said Australia First's use of the flag is inappropriate.
"The Eureka Flag is a symbol of our city and region," she said.
She vowed to push for an amendment to the law to grant the flag certain protections.
"It is a symbol of the fight for justice on the goldfields and, by extension, has long represented the campaigns of working people in Australia," she said.
"To see it placed on the logo of a right wing party such as Australia First is a complete contradiction of what the great flag represents."
But Mr Saleam said he would not abide by any law that the Federal Government passes around the Eureka flag's protection.
"Let it be fought out in the community as to what it actually means; that's the best way to decide it," he said.
"I welcome Catherine King's law; I'll break it on every opportunity I possibly can.
"I agree what Edward Kelly said, I do not recognise your law.
"I wouldn't recognise any law they might pass."
Topics: human-interest, political-parties, history, ballarat-3350
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