Flag replaced at Parliament House after anger over disrepair

Less than 24 hours after it was revealed the giant flag flying above Parliament House had fallen into disrepair, it has been replaced.

The Australian flag flying above Parliament House in Canberra was swiftly replaced on Tuesday morning following concerns it was in a state of disrepair.

A concerned member of the public collected a 78cm piece of the flag, which was hanging off the roof of the parliament before falling on the ground on Monday.

Dan Tehan holds part of the flag. Picture: Martin Ollman

The Australian flag flying above Parliament House is again in tatters, throwing Labor’s care for our national symbol and institutions into question. pic.twitter.com/cVxqeWM7zM

— Dan Tehan (@DanTehanWannon) September 9, 2024

Wannon MP Dan Tehan, who has previously criticised Anthony Albanese allowing a flag with a gaping hole in it flying over the building, said all Australians thought that there would be better care taken of the flag.

“It was national flag week last week and yet we arrive to Parliament House today and we have our flag again in tatters,” he said.

“We’ve got visitors here from across the country … and you would expect that our flag is in a state which represents that we take great pride, not only in this institution, but our the flag itself.

“The flag, once again, has fallen into disrepair under this Prime Minister’s watch.”

The tattered Australian flag flying over Parliament House. Picture: Twitter

The flag, which is about the same size of the side of a double-decker bus, is typically replaced on the first Wednesday of every month.

But dangerous weather conditions, such as high winds, can prevent workers from replacing the flag.

In March last year, officials deemed a flag flying with a hole in it “unacceptable” after bad weather and a mechanical fault delayed its replacement.

“The national significance and the importance of the Australian flag cannot be overstated,” the joint statement from the Presiding Officers said.

“We are aware of the unacceptable condition of the current Australian flag flying above Parliament House.”

Mr Tehan said keeping Australia’s public institutions in order should be a simple thing.

“If you can’t do the simple things right, how are you going to do the big things right?,” he said.

“That is what the Australian people, more and more, are beginning to ask of our Prime Minister.”

Originally published as Flag replaced at Parliament House after anger over disrepair