‘Don’t have a ready supply’: Bev McArthur’s stab at Greens leader

Liberal MP Bev McArthur has taken a dig at the Victorian Greens in a new social media video, with the Australia flag caught in the mix.

Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratman addresses people from all races march against Racism at a protest outside the State Library, Melbourne. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Liberal MP Bev McArthur has taken a swipe at the Victorian Greens, sharing a video for Australia Day of the politician leaving a supply of Australian flags at Greens members’ parliament office.

The Member for Western Victoria posted a video to platform X captioned “Dropping off some flags to the Greens for Australia Day!” and is seen walking through state parliament to the office of State Greens leader Samantha Ratnam.

“I’m guessing the @victoriangreens don’t have a ready supply of Australian flags, so I tried to drop one off at their leader’s office today,” she comments on the video.

Ms McArthur followed this up by saying it’s important everybody has a flag to “celebrate” Australia Day.

Glenormiston College sale, Glenormiston, Beverley McArthur, MP, Western Victoria Region, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The MP has showed her support for Australia Day on social media, with an Australian Day post on X she “honours our flag and our country” that she is “proud to call home”.

Ms McArthur said the video was a means of simply encouraging the Victorian Greens in their support for Australia Day.

I’m guessing the @victoriangreens don’t have a ready supply of Australian Flags, so I tried to drop one off at their leader’s office today. 🇦🇺

Happy Australia Day!#HappyAustraliaDay #AustralianFlag #Australia #AustraliaDay26Jan pic.twitter.com/8BQlmGIy1v

— Bev McArthur MP (@BevMcArthurMP) January 25, 2024

“I would never insist that everyone must celebrate Australia Day,” she said.

“What I cannot accept is the divisive attack on Australia Day, those who would discourage others from celebrating it, and worst of all the ignorant implication that anyone who does mark the day shows a racist disregard for Indigenous Australians.”

Ms McArthur has previously come under fire for claiming Indigenous Australians opposed to Australia Day should appreciate the “wonderful things that have been enabled via colonisation” such as healthcare, electricity and mobile phones.

However, Ms Ratnam refused to play ball with McArthur’s post, simply replying “Painful watch, thanks Bev” to her video.

The Greens leader began her career as a councillor and mayor with Moreland Council – now Meri-bek – where she was a part of the push to ban Australia Day celebrations in 2017.

“This isn’t about banning barbecues, it’s about respect for the world’s oldest living culture.” The Herald Sun reached out to Ms Ratnam for a response.