Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to the large Australian flag that flies above Parliament House. When I arrived at Parliament House this morning I noticed that a large strip seemed to have been torn from the flag and that it was flapping in the breeze. At lunchtime it was still in that state. I am wondering if you would draw that to the attention of the department that is responsible for the Australian flag on top of Parliament House and have it replaced as soon as possible, because it does look very bad to see the Australian flag on this Parliament House flying in that state.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I regret to inform the member for Maranoa that I have been aware of the state of the flag above Parliament House for over 24 hours, since yesterday morning. The state of the flag is a result of the weather conditions at the moment. The wind has caused the damage and the wind prevents those who are responsible for going to the top of the pole and replacing the flag from doing so immediately. A new flag is ready to go; it will be put up as soon as it is safe to do so. I thank the member for his question.