Australians have reacted with dismay to a shocking flag burning at a Brisbane Invasion Day protest that saw the national emblem go up in flames.
A flag burning at an Invasion Day protest has been slammed as a “disgrace” after vision of the wild act was widely shared online.
Footage from a rally held in central Brisbane on Monday has shown a man set an Australian national flag on fire.
Onlookers at the event could be heard cheering as the protester, who has been identified as indigenous man Moojidji, could be seen lighting the flag before it quickly went in flames.
The protester then received a round of applause from the crowd, as other protesters held up a large Aboriginal flag.
Moojidji said he carried out the act to challenge the country’s legal legitimacy and claimed the flag “doesn’t represent all of us”, according to The Courier Mail.
“We chant for land rights,” he said.
“We’re not just chanting for ourselves as human beings, we’re chanting for country.”
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson told SkyNews.com.au that the police force “acknowledges the overall peaceful behaviour of protesters in Inner Brisbane today”.
“It is estimated two thousand people attended the Queens Gardens protest and three thousand people attended the Botanic Gardens protest,” they said.
“There were no arrests.”
The spokesperson also confirmed Queensland Police were aware of the flag burning incident.
“No offence was detected,” they said.
“The QPS recognises that every person has the right to peaceful protest.”
Pictures and clips of the act shared online have attracted a wave a criticism from social media users, with one person commenting via X, “That should be illegal”.
“What a disgrace,” another person wrote.
Others pointed to the hate speech laws that have recently passed federal parliament, with one X user saying, “This should be hate speech”.
“Looks like a hate crime Albo,” another user commented, tagging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s X account.
“Isn’t that a hate crime under the new laws?” another person wrote.
When asked about the flag burning act on Monday, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson told 7News that the protesters responsible were “so un-Australian”.
“They’re full of hate. Hate for what?” she said.
“These people are fortunate to be here. Many millions of other people around the world would dearly love to have the opportunity to live in beautiful country like this.
“All they’re got is hate in their hearts. I’m not interested in them, not at all. I feel sorry for them actually.”
It comes amid a number of Invasion Day events being held around the country on Australia Day, with large rallies also in Sydney and Melbourne’s CBDs.
A heavy police presence was visible at Sydney’s Hyde Park, with an Invasion Day rally permitted to go ahead despite ongoing protest restrictions for the city.
Meanwhile, the annual Invasion Day rally kicked off at the steps of Parliament in Melbourne on Monday morning as a second protest, March for Australia, began at the same time at Flinders St Station.