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A BURNING ISSUE

Those student demonstrations in major cities across Australia yesterday provided an interesting sidelight – whether you agree with our Government’s position on war with Iraq or not.

In Perth two people were arrested after trying to burn an Australian flag outside the United States Consulate.

Now you may not like the Australian flag. You may prefer a different design without the Union Jack in the corner. I believe we should have new flag. After all, this one was the result of competition organised by a tobacco company and The Bulletin magazine.

But, and it is a big but, while we have this flag it must be shown respect. The grandfathers and great-grandfathers of some of those demonstrators fought under it. And thousands died under it.

The flag must be respected, just like the office of the Prime Minister must be respected even if you don’t like the current occupant. That is why I thought it so offensive for a Labor frontbencher, Mark Latham, to publicly call the Prime Minister of Australia an “ arselicker”.

But back to the flag. One of the men arrested for trying to burn the Australian flag in Perth was 19-year-old Ben Pearmain. He was charged with disorderly conduct and will appear in court on Tuesday.

I have learned –among other things – that Pearmain is a Second Year Communications student at Curtin University.

He burned the flag as a protest because he is ‘ against war of any kind”. I imagine he would not have the guts to burn an Iraqi flag in Baghdad. And why didn’t he burn his own country’s flag?

You see, Ben Pearmain is not an Australian citizen. He’s a New Zealander! Sure he has lived six years but he has never been naturalised.

My suggestion is, if he loathes this country so much that he’ll burn our flag that he leave. Or if convicted next week he should be deported.

Maybe that’s the sort of communication the budding communications student might understand.

Thursday, March 6, 2003

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2002