Senators Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Pauline Hanson ordered to remove Australian flag in Senate clash

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was ordered to remove the Australian flag she had draped across her shoulders while saying Australians needed to reclaim pride in the flag.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson later donned the Australian flag in the Senate as well, before she too was told to remove it.

“It is not a prop; the Australian flag flies in our chamber,” Senator Hanson said, before eventually removing it “with reluctance”.

Senator Price, the opposition defence industry spokeswoman, addressed the upper house on Wednesday, draping the flag around her as a celebration of Flag Day, commemorating 124 years since the Australian flag was first flown.

“When we look at our flag, we remember our history in the round,” Senator Price told the Senate.

“Yes, we remember the dark chapters, like the mistreatment of Indigenous Australians and returned Vietnam veterans, but we also recognise that our achievements and successes far outweigh our wrongdoings and failures.”

But her speech was interrupted by a point of order from Greens senator Nick McKim, who questioned whether the flag contravened a Senate standing order which bans props.

“I do want to make the point that if it’s OK for Senator Nampjinpa Price to wrap herself in this flag, I would intend to wrap myself in a Palestinian flag and come into the chamber and exercise the same rights that Senator Nampijinpa Price is currently exercising,” Senator McKim said.

Acting president of the Senate Slade Brockman then ordered Senator Price to continue her speech, but to remove the flag.

“In order not to set a precedent at this point, could I ask you please to finish your speech without the flag on your shoulders,” Mr Brockman said.

“We do not want to set a precedent in this place that would have very unfortunate consequences for the future.”

Senator Price returned to her speech in fury, taking aim at Senator McKim.

“So disappointing from the Greens, but also so typical,” she said.

“You can wear a keffiyeh in here, perhaps you should remove that article from you whenever you walk through these chambers for the benefit of all Australians in this country.

“Yes, snark all you like, it’s revolting.”

The Australian flag has been thrust into centre stage of politics, after more than a dozen March for Australia rallies took place last Sunday.

The flag was a critical emblem of the anti-immigration protests, which have since garnered condemnation for ties to Neo-Nazism.

The Northern Territory politician also slammed current legislation, which does not criminalise burning of the national symbol.

“Like most Australians, I was appalled by the footage of pro-Palestinian protesters burning our national flag in Melbourne on Sunday the third of August,” she said.

Following the Senate bust-up Senator Price posted a video of herself outside Parliament House with the flag back over her shoulders.

“I’m proud to wear this flag, even though the Greens would push to have me remove it in the Senate, that just demonstrates just how un-Australian they are,” Senator Price said.

“But this afternoon we will be pushing this government to make it illegal to burn the Australian flag, and so we should, it should be a criminal offence.

“We need to push this government to do the right thing. The Prime Minister, he should be standing before one flag that unites us all, the Australian flag.”

Props, including flags, are generally not allowed inside the Senate chamber.