Labor being urged to remove the Union Jack from the Australian Flag | Sunrise

[00:00:00]The Australian Labor Party is being urged to ditch the union jack from the [music] Australian flag in a push by the powerful Australian Manufacturing Workers Union ahead of Labour's national conference in Adelaide [music] this week. The proposal forms part of a quote blueprint for action by the union wanting to [music] address justice for First Nations people and getting rid of symbols of oppression [music] which they say includes the Union Jack. for their take. Let's bring in Housing Minister Clare O'Neal and National Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie. Good morning to both of you. Claire, are you up for changing the flag?

[00:00:36]Oh, good morning, Nat. Good morning, Bridget. I'm here in Adelaide for Labour's National Conference. So, this is a gathering of thousands of people who will come from all around the country to come together and debate the issues that Australians care about. Um, and despite what you've reported there, the main focus of this conference is really about helping Australians with the things they're talking about around the kitchen table. That's the cost of living, the bills that they've got that are piling up. It's about making sure that we take those next steps to get the young people around our country fair opportunities for home ownership. It's about how we protect Medicare and age care for Australians who will need them and how we build a better future for the next generation. So there's going to be a lot of debate, a lot of discussion about how much the government has achieved on these matters in the time that we've been in office, but we recognize that we've got a lot more work to do and that'll be the subject of discussion.

[00:01:26]>> Yeah, and one of them I think is going to be the Australian Manufacturers Workers Union making a demand that uh we put this policy ahead that we change the flag. Would you be up for changing it, CLA?

[00:01:37]>> Look, and that that's just not what the conference is is about. This is really about the things. This is really about the things that Australians care about.

[00:01:45]And respectfully to um you know all the motions that will be put forward. I'm the nation's housing minister at a moment where we've got a housing crisis that's been building for 40 years. My big focus is going to be on those questions about home ownership, about how we make sure Australians can pay the rent and how we deal with that rising homelessness we see right around our country. So, I understand that that's the news that's being reported, but I can just say really directly to Australians at home, Labor is focused on you, the things that you care about, that your family is talking about, and we're gathering to talk about what our government can do to make your life easier.

[00:02:18]>> So, when that one's put up, yes or no, Cla?

[00:02:21]>> Uh, again, Nat, sorry, it's not something that I've I've had a moment to think about. I'm focused on the housing issues that are affecting millions of people around our country, and our government is thinking about the things that are affecting the daily lives of Australians. We recognize that things are really tough for families right now and our conference is about how we make we can make the lives of our citizens easier.

[00:02:41]>> Yeah. But we can walk and chew gum at once I guess. So yes or no on changing the union. Jack >> Na how Nat I'm super respectful of the question. I'm telling you as housing minister I don't spend my time thinking about the national flag. I I spend my time thinking about the fact that we've got um home ownership rates plummeting through the floor for young people and our government is making really major steps to address that situation and that's what the conference is about.

[00:03:09]Look, we're it's if it comes up, it's been in the paper today. You've you've got a head start. Yes or no?

[00:03:15]>> N genuinely haven't given it a second thought. My focus is on coming to this conference thinking about thinking about thinking about the housing issues facing the country and and how I can help people at home and and I'm really respectful of your question, but if I can say directly, I'm focused on the things that Australians are talking about around the kitchen table. Housing is one of the most important. I'm, you know, doing this very important job for the country and I'm fully focused on.

[00:03:37]Look, you've got 2 minutes 55 left.

[00:03:39]We'll let you have a think. Uh Bridget, uh this the Union Jack has obviously been on uh the flag for 125 years.

[00:03:47]Should we ditch it?

[00:03:48]>> Absolutely not, Nat. I'm really proud of our country and I don't know why the Labour Party and their union backers are continually trashing uh our country and our heritage. We should be very proud uh of our British heritage and our flag represents not only our British heritage with the Union Jack and the three crosses of our British heritage but also importantly the Southern Cross which uniquely speaks to our ancient heritage here in Australia. And if it wasn't for our British heritage, we wouldn't be in a parliamentary democracy where our constitution guarantees that the people can throw Claire and I out uh or vote us in according to the job we do. We wouldn't be as free and fair as we are.

[00:04:32]We wouldn't be equal under the law as we all are in this country. So there's a whole lot of reasons to be very thankful for our British heritage and proud of it. So, if I was at the Labour Party conference, Cla, I wouldn't find it very hard to say it's a hard no to changing the flag.

[00:04:48]>> Okay, let's go to Okay. Uh, just wrapping up. Claire, uh, yes or no on changing the Union, Jack, [laughter] >> let's not go through it again. I'm glad Bridget's contemplating coming to Adelaide and joining Party National because I'm I'm just not going to get involved in a debate. Um, isn't it?

[00:05:07]Because what I'm focused on because what I'm focused on is what matters to people at home. Nat and what they are concerned about right now is how they're going to pay their rent, how they're going to pay their bills, and how they're going to get with all due respect. We know that my focus, but this feels like the Albanesei government is not ruling out a change in the flag this morning.

[00:05:25]>> No, that story that that literally has never been contemplated, Nat, and it is a distraction from something about capital gains tax.

[00:05:33]>> Let No, Bridget, we're not starting on that. Uh the flag, the Union Jack.

[00:05:37]Should we take it off the flag, Claire?

[00:05:39]>> Look, my my personal view is no, Nat, but I'm I'm not going to get into a debate about that. The government's focused on the things that people at home are caring about. [laughter] >> Yep, you will. That's what the union says. So, get ready for it.

[00:05:51]>> Put your back as a warning claim. So, >> okay, we'll see. Thank you very much.

[00:05:55]See you next week.