PREMIER Will Hodgman is steering well clear of fresh debate on adopting a new Australian flag. Former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown has reignited conversation about overhauling the flag’s design. In a Fairfax Media opinion piece on Monday, Mr Brown mooted the idea of scrapping the flag’s Union Jack and replacing it with a bounding red kangaroo. He insisted it was inevitable Australia would move to a new flag. ‘‘The way ahead will be through a lot of public consultation and design input, just as happened in Canada and is happening in New Zealand,’’ Mr Brown wrote. ‘‘The outcome will be a flag that leaves no one in doubt that it is truly Australian.’’ Mr Brown said the kangaroo design could be easily pinched from the Australian penny, while the Federation Star and Southern Cross could be left intact. He also floated the idea of mixing up the flag’s colour scheme, opting instead for green and gold in line with the country’s sporting colours. Mr Hodgman played down the resurfacing debate when asked his opinion. ‘‘I haven’t thought too much about our nation’s flag, but needless to say my heart lies very much in Tasmania,’’ he said. ‘‘If Bob wants to stimulate that sort of debate, it should happen at a national level, but I’m focused on what’s happening here in Tasmania.’’
PREMIER Will Hodgman is steering well clear of fresh debate on adopting a new Australian flag.
Former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown has reignited conversation about overhauling the flag’s design.
In a Fairfax Media opinion piece on Monday, Mr Brown mooted the idea of scrapping the flag’s Union Jack and replacing it with a bounding red kangaroo.
He insisted it was inevitable Australia would move to a new flag.
‘‘The way ahead will be through a lot of public consultation and design input, just as happened in Canada and is happening in New Zealand,’’ Mr Brown wrote.
‘‘The outcome will be a flag that leaves no one in doubt that it is truly Australian.’’
Mr Brown said the kangaroo design could be easily pinched from the Australian penny, while the Federation Star and Southern Cross could be left intact.
He also floated the idea of mixing up the flag’s colour scheme, opting instead for green and gold in line with the country’s sporting colours.
Mr Hodgman played down the resurfacing debate when asked his opinion.
‘‘I haven’t thought too much about our nation’s flag, but needless to say my heart lies very much in Tasmania,’’ he said.
‘‘If Bob wants to stimulate that sort of debate, it should happen at a national level, but I’m focused on what’s happening here in Tasmania.’’
