World shocked by Tasmania’s Queen Mary act that’s infuriated Aboriginal Australians: ‘Shameful’

A Danish newspaper has highlighted the uproar caused by the Tasmanian parliament taking down the Aboriginal flag and flying a Danish flag in its place.

Parliament was accused of having a ‘disrespect’ for Indigenous Australians after removing the Aboriginal emblem and replacing it with the Danish flag.

The red and white flag was raised in tribute to Hobart-born Queen Mary, who was proclaimed Queen of Denmark together with King Frederick X on Sunday.

The move has sparked outrage among the indigenous community, which has called for an apology and proper consultation.

The Danish tabloid publication BT joined in reporting on this Taking down the ‘so-called Aboriginal’ flag ‘has led to fierce criticism’.

BT quoted an Australian who called removing the flag “a shameful choice.”

At the same time, she calls it a “poisonous nod to a European monarchy,” the newspaper said.

Critics of the measure were quick to point out that although the Aboriginal flag had been removed, the Australian and Tasmanian flags had continued to fly.

“Anyone who wants to take a guess as to which flag was taken down…certainly wasn’t one of the Union Jacks,” one social media user wrote on social media platform X on Monday.

Others were also quick to judge the flag debate.

‘Incredibly disrespectful and completely unnecessary!’ said one.

Many disagreed with the Tasmanian Parliament’s criticism for flying the Danish flag.

‘What’s shameful about it? There are only so many flagpoles,” one person wrote.

Another quoted from the Australian national flag protocols.

“After the Australian national flag, the order of precedence of flags is: national flag of other countries, state and territory flags, other Australian flags prescribed by the Flags Act 1953, flags and pennants,” the person said.

‘Educate yourself.’

BT pointed out that ‘while many are critical, there are also Tasmanians who feel a special tribute is appropriate and point to how much publicity Queen Mary has given Tasmania over the years’.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Mark Shelton and Legislative Council member Craig Farrell confirmed that parliament had followed protocol.

“There are three flagpoles at Parliament House, where the Australian, Tasmanian and Aboriginal flags usually fly,” they said in a joint statement.

“Today the Danish flag was raised and the order of the flags was in accordance with the flag protocols and priority order provided by the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet.”

Tasmanian Aboriginal Center campaigner Nala Mansell said removing the flag showed a lack of respect for Aboriginal Australians.

“When an Aboriginal flag is flown it represents recognition that the land on which the building stands is Aboriginal land,” Ms Mansell told the newspaper. Mercury.

“It’s a recognition of the true owners of this land.”

Ms Mansell questioned why a flag that symbolizes 60,000 years of history would be deliberately replaced with one that ‘represents a modern marriage’.

Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has written to Mr Shelton and Mr Farrell asking that the flag be flown alongside the Tasmanian flag at all times.

‘The House recognized that Lutruwita/Tasmania continues to be, and always will be, Aboriginal country… In light of this, the House expressed the intention that the Aboriginal flag would be flown over Parliament House whenever the Tasmanian state flag is flown ‘ she wrote.

‘We understand the desire to mark the proclamation of Mary Donaldson as Queen of Denmark.

“However, this should not take precedence over our duty to pay our continued formal respect to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people and their pre-existing and enduring relationship with this island.”

Queen Mary grew up as Mary Donaldson in Taroona, a beachside suburb south of Hobart, and is the youngest of four children born to Scottish parents.