Anthony Albanese Praised For Putting First Nations Flags Behind Him For Prime Minister’s Speech

Anthony Albanese took a matter of minutes to change history.

Prior to his first speech after being sworn in officially as Australia's 31st Prime Minister, the Labor leader's staff were busy changing the flags behind the podium.

Under the previous Liberal government, only one flag appeared on the stage of Parliament House's 'Blue Room', which was the national Australian flag.

But not anymore.

Now, the Blue Room podium also proudly displays the Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag.

Albanese didn't make a song and dance out of it. In fact, the change went by completely unmentioned by the new Prime Minister as he launched into his first speech, flanked by the flags of Australia's First Nations people.

The move has been praised online by Aussies, with former Australian of the Year Grace Tame leading the charge with 'always was, always will be'.

The statement means that Australian soil was originally Aboriginal land and always will be Aboriginal land.

Many echoed her sentiments online with one Twitter user saying: "An Australian leader that actually acknowledges the people/cultures of the Australian First Nation and Torres Strait. Never thought I would live to see this. The symbolism alone here speaks volumes."

A second said: "One small step forward each day is all it will take for our country to finally heal. I’m proud to be an Australian again."

A third added: "Inclusivity, recognition and respect matter. Here we go!"

The historic move comes after Albanese vowed to enact the Uluru Statement in his acceptance speech following the federal election.

"I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet. I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. And on behalf of the Australian Labor Party, I commit to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full," he said.

"Together we can be a self-reliant, resilient nation, confident in our values and in our place in the world. And together we can embrace the Uluru Statement from the Heart."

The Uluru Statement from the Heart was created in 2017 by Aboriginal elders and calls for First Nations people to be recognised and established in parliament.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart reads: "In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard. We leave base camp and start our trek across this vast country.

"We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future."

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Nine News. Thomas Cockrem/Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Australia

Rachel Lang

Rachel Lang is a Digital Journalist at LADbible. During her career, she has interviewed Aussie PM Malcolm Turnbull in the lead up to the 2016 federal election, ran an editorial campaign on the war in Yemen, and reported on homelessness in the lead-up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding in Windsor. She also once wrote a yarn on the cheese and wine version of Fyre Festival.

@rlangjournalist