Indigenous senators at odds over Greens leader’s controversial flag move

Two Indigenous Australian senators have traded barbs over Adam Bandt’s removal of the Australian flag during a press conference.

Indigenous Greens Senator for Victoria Lidia Thorpe says the Australian flag is an “obscenity” to Aboriginal Australians and should be replaced.

Her comments come after Greens leader Adam Bandt’s team moved the Australian flag for a press conference yesterday, while leaving the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags in shot.

Ms Thorpe says she also removes the flag when it’s positioned behind her.

“We have to start looking at what that flag represents and the history behind that flag,” she told Neil Mitchell.

“A lot of listener, I know, would be upset about the removal of that flag because it feels patriotic to them, however it doesn’t feel like that to us as First Nations people in this country.

“What we have to understand is what the Australian flag represents — and it represents a colonial invasion which massacred and murdered thousands.

“For First Nations people that flag is an obscenity.”

Press PLAY below to hear Lidia Thorpe’s explanation

But Indigenous Liberal Senator for the Northern Territory, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, says she doesn’t find the Australian flag an “obscenity”.

“Senator Thorpe should make it very clear that is how she views the flag and that is not how all Indigenous Australians view the flag,” she told Neil Mitchell.

“Any Australian with half a brain understands that the flag in fact does not represent massacre or colonisation, it represents the people of this country in its entirety, people of many different backgrounds.”

The NT senator said Mr Bandt’s actions were “quite insulting”.

“He is disrespecting all Australians who are united under that flag,” she said.

“It implies that Indigenous Australians are victims, helpless victims that can only be rescued by the likes of privileged Greens MPs and nobody else.”

Press PLAY below to hear Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s view

Neil Mitchell’s view on Adam Bandt’s controversial press conference move

Image (Thorpe): Sam Mooy/Getty Images