P&O cruise boss overturns ban on Australian flag on short cruises

The boss of P&O Cruises has stepped in to override a decision to prohibit the national anthem and official Australian flag on their special Australia Day short cruises.

A ban on flying the official Australian flag and playing the anthem on P&O Cruises’ special “Australia Day” short trips has been overturned by the company after queries by The Daily Telegraph.

P&O Cruises Australia president Marguerite Fitzgerald said it was “news to her” and a “misunderstanding” that had seen a staff directive that “No Australian flags are to be hung or presented anywhere across all ships” on Australia Day.

The giant cruising ship company had sent an internal memo to staff operating its three “Australia Day” cruises - two of which will call into Sydney Harbour on Thursday, January 26 - that not only prohibited the use of the flag to celebrate the day, but also banned the playing of the national anthem.

The fatwa against the official flag had even gone as far as stipulating no flag on cakes, on face-painting, on temporary tattoos, towel and bunting displays, the internal memo, obtained by One Nation MP Mark Latham, stated.

Mr Latham slammed the original decision as “unAustralian” and said if the company was so ashamed of the flag it was really saying they were ashamed of our nation and Australia Day.

A promotion for the "Australia Day" cruise by P&O Cruises includes images of the Australian flag.

Ms Fitzgerald said the company had been wanting to ensure everyone had a good time on the cruise and “feels included”.

“It was news to me that someone had interpreted this goal as not including the flag and anthem,” she said.

The original memo banning the flag in cakes, bunting, temporary tattoos, face=painting or towel displays. The national anthem was also not to be sung. Source: Supplied.

The original memo banning the flag.

“This was not what we were trying to achieve and clearly a misunderstanding.”

“The Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and the national anthem will be all part of the program.”

The original instructions, sent to staff on three ships, had stated: “An Australia Day themed cake can be presented in F&B areas, however no use of the Australia flag is permitted.”

“Face painting and tattoo stations should be presented on all ships however no Australian flag tattoos should be used. Generic tattoos are still being sourced.

A P&O cruise liner on Australia Day in 2013.

“Housekeeping staff will create and display a towel themed animal display, this has been communicated from Renugah, no Australian flags are to be on display.”

“No other theming or decorations is permitted to be displayed anywhere across the ship.”

The instructions had also black-banned the national anthem, Advance Australia Fair.

“No national anthem is to be performed from the on-board team or played.”

Mr Latham said banning the flag and anthem on Australia Day “is by definition is very unAustralian”.

“It’s part of this corporate trend, we have seen it with Kmart, companies that try to make money off Australians are ashamed of Australia Day which is supported by the majority of Australians.”

NSW One Nation MP Mark Latham is concerned about corporate decisions to not celebrate Australia Day. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Original memo to ban the Australian flag on at P&O Cruises.

“Of course she (P&O Cruises Australia boss Ms Fitzgerald) must have known.

“Who runs the company?

“Busted and now they retreat from the embarrassment.”

The cruises involved in Australia Day celebrations included the Pacific Explorer which will be at White Bay on Thursday, the Pacific Adventure which will depart from Melbourne and be anchored in Sydney Harbour on the day, and the Pacific Encounter which will be at Airlie Beach in Queensland on the day on its way to Indonesia.

Last week Kmart joined the woke push to erase Australia Day, deciding not to sell any Australia Day merchandise because they claimed they wanted to “aim to foster an environment that is inclusive and respectful of both our customers and teams”.