A prominent Australian trade union has proposed a significant alteration to the national flag, advocating for the removal of the Union Jack to shed symbols of 'oppression' and colonialism. The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) outlined this demand in its "Union Blueprint for Action," a document released ahead of the Labor Party's national conference.
Within a section dedicated to "Solidarity with First Nations Peoples," the AMWU calls for four actions to advance Indigenous recognition and address the legacy of colonialism. The third point specifically targets the removal of symbols the union identifies as oppressive, including the Union Jack featured on the Australian flag. The blueprint states, "We need to strip away the constant reminders of the old ruling class and colonial empire. Symbols of oppression, like the Union Jack on our flag and offensive colonial statues, must be removed from public life."
The document argues that Australia should cease celebrating symbols linked to the dispossession of Indigenous Australians, asserting that "A fair country should not celebrate the very symbols used to commit violence and dispossession against its First Peoples." The AMWU is an influential union affiliated with the Labor Party, with several federal parliamentarians among its members. The blueprint also urges the current government to fully implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which includes provisions for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, treaty-making, and truth-telling processes. This call comes after a 2023 referendum where a majority of Australians rejected a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament.
The union acknowledges that contemporary Australians are not directly responsible for historical colonial actions but contends that they benefit from the systems established by those governments. "While working class people today did not commit these colonial crimes, we inherited the system that emerged from them. A system that favours the rich and powerful," the blueprint reads. "We therefore inherit the obligation to fix its biggest wrongs." The Labor National Conference, scheduled to begin this week in Adelaide, is the party's first major gathering since its federal election victory last year. The conference serves as a platform for Labor MPs, party members, and affiliated unions to debate policy and shape the party's future direction. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is reportedly aiming to keep the focus on the government's agenda and avoid contentious internal debates on issues such as the AUKUS defence pact and the conflict in the Middle East. The conference is anticipated to be a venue for Labor to establish priorities for its next term while navigating competing interests from unions and party factions.