Family protest Western Australia’s coronavirus lockdown with bizarre flag display

A furious West Australian family has gone viral for their decision to fly the Aussie flag upside down, with people mocking their reasoning.

A West Australian family have taken aim at Premier Mark McGowan, in a bizarre anti-lockdown display.

Mr McGowan ordered a five-day lockdown for Greater Perth on Sunday, hours after a security guard working in hotel quarantine tested positive to coronavirus.

The lockdown, which only permits residents to leave their home for a handful of essential reasons, is due to end at 6pm on Friday.

Masks are also mandatory for everywhere outside a person’s family home.

In a bizarre public protest, spotted by a resident in the northern Perth suburb of Northbridge, one family hasn’t taken too kindly to the brief lockdown.

“Our house is declaring distress,” the family wrote, in a two-page note taped to their front fence.

Next to the furious note was an inverted Australian flag, an international sign used to show distress, and a pair of boots.

The family’s note, inverted flag and boots, in protest of Western Australia’s lockdown. Picture: Bell Tower Times

RELATED: Follow our coronavirus blog for live updates

RELATED: Restrictions back in Victoria after new case

Anti-lockdown protesters have repeatedly put boots outside their home, as a way of calling for premiers to be “booted out” of the job.

The boot protest gained traction in Victoria last year after Premier Dan Andrews placed his state into a lengthy lockdown, to bring its second wave of coronavirus under control.

“We have raised an inverted Australian flag to declare the occupants of this house are in distress,” the family explained.

“The despotic premier of Western Australia, in order to gain pre-election advantage over his political opponents, as predicted, has abused his power.”

The family claim they are being “held under crimeless arrest” by the government and that they are “required to wear a muzzle like a dog”.

The family also hit out at their children being “denied a school education”, despite the lockdown only running for one week of school.

“Abuse of political power for political gain is a crime,” the family claims.

The lengthy note, written by the family. Picture: Bell Tower Times

The photos, taken by Northbridge local Ryan and sent to parody site The Bell Tower Times, have since gone viral.

“If having to stay home for five days is ‘distress’, God forbid you ever suffer a real trauma in your life,” one commenter said.

“If copping a mask for a week is the most oppressed you’ve been in your life ... well f**k,” another said.

“When old mate fails to understand the whole global pandemic started with a single case,” a third added.

The federal government has a list of national protocols relating to use of the Australian flag.

In its protocols, the government advises Australians to never fly the flag upside-down.

“As one of Australia’s most important symbols, the flag should be used with respect and dignity,” the department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said.

“Do not fly the flag upside down, even as a signal of distress.”

Western Australia is now in its fourth day of coronavirus lockdown and is yet to record another case.

The security guard and his close contacts are in isolation with the lockdown expected to be lifted at 6pm tomorrow.