WA Liberal senator Michaelia Cash stands firm on ‘one flag'
The two motions will be debated at Saturday's WA Liberal Party council, and has been supported by the Coalition's foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash, after an explosive Senate debate on Welcome to Country ceremonies.
On flag recognition, the motion 'calls on the Ley Opposition to adopt a policy that in addition to the Australian national flag, only flags representing official jurisdictions (such as states and territories) or government institutions (such as the armed forces) be given formal Commonwealth recognition'.
Another motion will call on the federal Liberal Party to state that 'Welcome to Country ceremonies and acknowledgments should not hold official status as they are tokenistic at best and do nothing to improve the lives of our most disadvantaged Australians'.
Senator Cash said she supported both motions and 'welcome them being debated at the WA State Liberal Party Council'.
'It has been my long held belief and I am on the public record saying that there is one national flag and we should all unite under it,' she said.
'On the Welcome to Country issue my long held position, that is again on the public record, is consistent with the motion.'
The motions and Senator Cash's comments also split with the stance taken by the Opposition Leader who said that, while 'we should unite under the one Australian flag,' she was 'happy to stand in front of the Aboriginal flag'.
'Had a gutful'
Debate on Welcome to Country ceremonies intensified on the first day of the new parliament after One Nation senators Pauline Hanson, Malcolm Roberts, Tyron Whitten and Warwick Stacey turned their backs on the chamber on Tuesday.
While their actions were condemned by Labor and the Greens, party leader Senator Hanson said she had 'had a gutful' of the process.
'I have had enough, and I do not want a Welcome to Country and to be disenfranchised from my own country that I was born here,' she said.
Senator Cash delivered an explosive spray at Foreign Minister Penny Wong, accusing the Labor senator of demeaning Indigenous Country Liberal Senator Jacinta Price, who said she was 'sick to death' of being 'objectified' and used as 'political tokens'.
Earlier, Senator Wong urged Senator Price to follow Ms Ley's comments for the party to 'recommit ourselves to the taking of practical action to improve lives and expand opportunities for Indigenous Australians in every part of our great country'.
Firing back, Senator Cash defended Senator Price.
'Do not ever demean anybody. Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Her mother's story — Bess Price — I suggest you all read it. A woman walking through the desert was her mother,' Ms Cash said.
'I suggest you read the story of Bess Price before you ever come in here and cast aspersions or tell us, Senator Wong, to respect other words.
'I will stand by and respect Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who every day has lived and breathed reconciliation in this country. Her father is white, her mother is black.
'Don't ever come into this place again and pontificate to us like you've just done.'
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy also questioned the Liberal Party's splintered view on Indigenous affairs.
'It was interesting because Sussan Ley sat next to Aunty Violet with the opening of the parliament and with the Prime Minister, and wanted to reset the direction for the Coalition,' she told the ABC on Thursday.
While Senator McCarthy said people would bring their 'own personal opinions' into the debate around Welcome to Country ceremonies, she urged senators to be respectful.
'I don't think it will ever be settled because there will always be differing opinions,' she said.
'What was important was to remind Senators that we have a duty to the Senate to uphold, as Senator Wong said this week, to uphold democracy and the institutions of democracy in this country. And if we as Senators don't do it, then why are we there?'
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