NSW Greens MP to wear Aboriginal flag pin

The Aboriginal flag.

NEW SOUTH WALES: A Greens MP says he will be sporting an Aboriginal flag pin in NSW parliament on Wednesday, despite being thrown out of the upper house for wearing it.

In a moved he described as “disgraceful”, Jeremy Buckingham was ordered to leave the Legislative Council on Tuesday for wearing a 2.5cm pin shaped like Australia and bearing the Aboriginal flag.

Government Whip Peter Phelps moved the order after saying it was larger than the parliamentary pin allowed to be worn in the house.

Despite the ruling, Mr Buckingham said he would be wearing the offending item again on Wednesday.

“I’m not worried about being thrown out. Now it’s a matter of principle,” Mr Buckingham told AAP.

“To be thrown out … because of a pin the size of a thumb nail … what planet are we on?”

Mr Buckingham said Mr Phelps had spotted the pin from around 30 to 40 metres away, while he was in the midst of moving a motion for the parliament to recognise World Food Day.

The Greens MP was also speaking about poverty and how climate change impacts on the world’s ability to meet food needs.

He said it was “disgraceful” that the pin of an Aboriginal flag was not allowed.

“It is discrimination that this is being picked on,” he said.

“The reality is this is a waste of the parliament’s time.”

AAP