NT Health investigating ways to ‘display’ Rainbow and Transgender flags in Top End hospitals
Doctors have criticised the NT Government for embarking on ‘culture wars around symbols’ rather than safe healthcare for all following a snap decision to remove pride flags.
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Top End hospitals are working on a compromise after being ordered to remove Pride flags from the lobby since they breached official NT Government protocols.
On Tuesday NT Health removed a trio of flags, the rainbow, transgender and Torres Strait Islander flags following a complaint to the Chief Minister’s office over the display.
Health Minister Steve Edgington said the flags were not compliant with the official protocols for NT government buildings, which specifically allow the Australian, Northern Territory and Aboriginal flags.
The move sparked outrage from medical professionals, who felt the sudden decision was contrary to the hospital's commitment to provide safe, inclusive healthcare to all.
Following news coverage and public backlash, the Torres Strait Islander flag was reinstated as of Wednesday afternoon but the Pride flags remained missing.
This masthead understands Palmerston Regional Hospital management has told staff it will return the LGBTQI+ symbols in an altered form.
In a sign posted by the Palmerston Regional Hospital general manager Priscilla Moore on Thursday stated that the Transgender and Rainbow flags would instead be “framed for display on the wall”, returning the week of February 9.
A NT Health spokesman said while the hospitals had to comply with the NT government flag rules it was “identifying where other flags can be displayed in ways that align with NT Government protocols”.
“NT Health is committed to providing safe, high quality and inclusive services for all members of the community, including sexuality and gender diverse people,” he said.
While the general NT and Federal flag protocols state that the Australian flag must take the “position of honour” on the left, these protocols allow for other flags — including non-government flags — to be flown alongside it.
Following the pride flag removal the Australian Medical Association NT and Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation NT both shared their “deep concern” over the symbolic move.
AMANT president Robert Parker said it was crucial for all patients to feel safe and respected in the Territory's public hospitals.
“The removal of these flags sends the wrong message at a time when inclusion in healthcare settings should be prioritised,” Dr Parker said.
“Representation matters, especially in healthcare where trust and visibility can make all the difference in a person’s willingness to seek care.”
As hospital capacity is stretched across the Territory, ASMOF NT president Tom Fowles said the priority of the government needed to be the provision of safe healthcare, not “culture wars around symbols”.
A controversial religious lobby group, the Australian Christian Lobby has denied making the complaint to the Chief Minister.
NT director Nicholas Lay however celebrated the removal of the flags saying it signalled a shift from “ideological activism in public healthcare settings”.
In October last year an ACL petition was tabled in the NT parliament with more than 450 signatures calling on the Finocchiaro Government to suspend gender transition treatments, as well as commission an independent inquiry into finding a “scientific” approach to treat gender dysphoria. It has received vocal opposition from Top End Pride, Transcend Australia, Equality Australia, and health care specialists.
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Originally published as NT Health investigating ways to ‘display’ Rainbow and Transgender flags in Top End hospitals
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