In Parliament on Friday, the Labor Party rejected a proposal by the Liberal Coalition to provide police with Australian flags to fly on their vehicles on significant national days, such as Anzac Day, Australia Day and Remembrance Day, Liberal candidate for Penrith, Tricia Hitchen said today.  

“This was a simple motion to support providing the Police with small Australian flags to fly on their cars,” Mrs Hitchen said.  

“Many Police already choose to fly the flag on their cars, particularly on significant national days, such as Anzac Day, Australia Day and Remembrance Day.

“However, Police who chose to do this currently have to buy the flags themselves. Why can’t the State Government provide flags for Police? What has the Labor Party got against flying our national flag?

“Small flags are not expensive items, and yet the Labor Government refuses to provide such a simple item for our Police,” Mrs Hitchen said.  

Not only did the Labor Party oppose the motion, but in speaking against it senior Labor MP Gerard Martin made the following remarks:

“There is a sinister side to this motion: it is part of the Leader of the Opposition's racist little agenda."  

"This motion has nothing to do with flying flags on certain days; it is just the Leader of the Opposition throwing it in there for the rednecks."  

“What is racist about flying the Australian flag on days of national significance?

“As a former Police Officer, I recognise the Australian flag as a symbol of pride in our nation. 

It represents our past, and promotes remembrance of our armed services, the men and women who served under the flag and made the ultimate sacrifice for the way of life we too often take for granted.

“The Labor Party should accept the Liberal proposal to provide our Police with Australian flags to fly on their cars,” Mrs Hitchen concluded.