Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition Senator Scott Ryan has expressed surprise that protesters could easily circumvent proper processes in a tense environment and light a fire outside Parliament – a fire that was eventually used to burn the Australian flag.
The day after the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader were rushed from a Canberra restaurant following a security breach by demonstrators, parliamentary staff allowed protesters to light a ceremonial fire outside Parliament, which was later used to set the Australian flag alight.
Senate President John Hogg told the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s Additional Estimates the usual approval process for ceremonial fires was not adhered to and a decision had to be made very quickly by Parliament officials.
“Normally fires are only permitted with the approval of a presiding officer [the Speaker of the House of Representatives or President of the Senate], but in this instance I understand the [Usher of the] Black Rod was exercising some consideration of their views in existence with the circumstances,” Senator Hogg told the committee.
Senator Ryan expressed amazement that a particular interest group could insist on special treatment and circumvent the systems in place to ensure safety, especially after the events of the day before.
“You or I could not just waltz up to Parliament and demand to be allowed to light a fire, which we then use to burn the Australian flag outside the national Parliament, these demonstrators should not have been either,” Senator Ryan said.
“We have procedures in place for ceremonial fires. Particularly given the events of the previous day, I would have thought that there would have been a much greater sensitivity to possible safety breaches, as well as the feelings of many Australians that it is not appropriate to burn our national flag, especially not at the entrance of Parliament.”
While officials had no part or foreknowledge of the subsequent use of the fire to burn the flag, Senator Ryan expressed concern about the double standards regarding the setting of fires in the forecourt of Parliament, “When officials talk of cultural sensitivity, there should also be respect shown to those who treasure our flag.”