Once a symbol of unity, equality and democratic rights, the Eureka flag is increasingly being appropriated by extremist groups seeking to legitimise racism and exclusion. Reclaiming its precious original meaning may now require protecting it from misuse.

During an interview last month former Prime Minister Tony Abbott declared that core Australian values include respect for the flag. Abbott went on to describe Australian society as essentially Anglo Celtic Judeo-Christian.

At the march for Australia on Australia Day this year in Brisbane Pauline Hanson draped herself in that flag. In an interview she said that there are no good Muslims.

Speaking to The Guardian in February the UK artist Dame Tracey Emin noted that Nigel Farage’s Reform party now run Kent County where she resides and the UK flag is everywhere, much to her concern.

In Yorkshire, Rotherham council recently offered £500 grants to community groups willing to erect flagpoles and fly the UK flag. Rotherham was the scene of the attempted fire bombing of an asylum seeker hostel in 2024.

In Alice Springs it appears that the Country Liberal party government has also recently encouraged the flying of the Australian flag. Its prominence noted by visitors who, no doubt, also see the shocking Aboriginal disadvantage, ill health and poverty on the streets of that city.

Neo Nazis in Australia now also proudly display the Southern Cross or Eureka flag as their patriotic symbol. It flew on the stage at a rally in Sydney on Australia Day this year as a Neo Nazi delivered a hate speech that led to his arrest and criminal prosecution.

Following his election as Opposition Leader Angus Taylor used the Australian flag to promote himself by declaring that support for the flag is a pre condition to a migrant........

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