Labor under pressure as union demands Union Jack be removed from Australian flag

Labor’s Housing Minister repeatedly dodged questions on changing the Australian flag as a powerful union pushed to strip the Union Jack from its design.

The awkward exchange comes ahead of Labor’s National Conference in Adelaide this week, where the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) is urging the party to back a sweeping package of reforms, including replacing the current national flag.

In a proposed policy, the union argues the Union Jack is a “symbol of oppression” that should be removed from public life.

“We need to strip away the constant reminders of the old ruling class and colonial empire,” the policy states.

“Symbols of oppression, like the Union Jack on our flag and offensive colonial statues, must be removed from public life.”

The proposal forms part of a broader platform calling for greater solidarity with Indigenous Australians, while also advocating higher top marginal tax rates, wealth and inheritance taxes, significantly higher taxes on gas exports and universally free essential services.

Questioned repeatedly by Sunrise host Natalie Barr about whether she supported changing the flag, Ms O’Neil declined multiple opportunities to give a direct answer, instead insisting Labor’s focus remained on cost-of-living pressures.

“This is really about the things that Australians care about,” she said.

“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.”

Ms Barr repeatedly pressed the minister for a simple yes-or-no response.

“So when that one’s put up, yes or no?” she asked.

Ms O’Neil again refused to commit.

“It’s not something that I’ve had a moment to think about. I’m focused on the housing issues that are affecting millions of people around our country.”

As the interview continued, Ms Barr suggested the government was refusing to rule out a change to the flag.

“It feels like the Albanese government is not ruling out a change in the flag this morning,” she said.

After several minutes of avoiding a direct response, Ms O’Neil eventually revealed her own position.

“My personal view is no Nat, but I’m not going to get into a debate about that,” she said.

“The government’s focused on the things that people at home are caring about.”

Appearing alongside Ms O’Neil, Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie immediately rejected the proposal.

“Absolutely not,” Senator McKenzie said.

“I’m really proud of our country, and I don’t know why the Labor Party and their union backers are continually trashing our country and our heritage.”

She argued the Union Jack recognised Australia’s British heritage and the parliamentary democracy and legal system inherited from Britain, saying she would give “a hard no to changing the flag”.

Independent Fowler MP Dai Le also condemned the proposal, saying it ignored the issues Australians were most concerned about.

“I just think it’s unbelievable,” Ms Le said.

A Vietnamese refugee who famously wore a dress made from the Australian flag during her maiden speech to Parliament in 2022, Ms Le said the flag represented opportunity and belonging for migrants who had chosen to build a life in Australia.

“It’s a flag that has welcomed myself and my family,” she said.

“For families here in Fowler, the many refugees and migrants who’ve come here, it’s a flag that represents this country has given them a second chance.”

She accused Labor-affiliated unions of reigniting another “culture war” despite Australians being more concerned about housing, grocery prices and energy bills.

“The Australian Manufacturing Union ... should focus on retaining local jobs,” she said.

“They should be fighting and campaigning for that, not on this symbol war.”

Australia’s national flag has featured the Union Jack since Federation in 1901, and previous attempts to redesign it have sparked fierce political and public debate.

Whether the AMWU proposal gains any traction at Labor’s national conference remains to be seen, but the issue has already reignited divisions over Australia’s identity, history and national symbols.