Is it wrong for political parties to incorporate the Australian flag, or parts of it, into their logo?

No, infact it should be mandatory to have the national flag in the political party symbol.

No, I don't believe so either.  If you think they shouldn't, then nobody should be allowed to.

OK, lets move away from whether they should be allowed to, to whether they should.

Yep.

Why would there be a problem with it?


I think it should be ok..symbolises national pride.

wrote on Feb 20^th, 2008 at 7:00pm:

Why would there be a problem with it? I think it should be ok..symbolises national pride.

Yep.

freediver wrote on Feb 20^th, 2008 at 5:07pm:

OK, lets move away from whether they should be allowed to, to whether they should.

Why shouldn't they?

It's suggestive of a claim to be more 'Australian' than another political party. The flag represents all Australians, not just members of one party. A corporate logo must be actively protected against misuse. A flag is pretty much the same thing.

There are also some traditional 'rules' about what is acceptable to do with a flag. If the banner for your party looks like the flag or has the flag on it then it breaks those rules.

The government of the day represents all Australians.  Are these "traditional rules' actually in legislation?  Sue them if you feel that strongly about it.

freediver wrote on Feb 21^st, 2008 at 3:58pm:

It's suggestive of a claim to be more 'Australian' than another political party. The flag represents all Australians, not just members of one party. A corporate logo must be actively protected against misuse. A flag is pretty much the same thing. There are also some traditional 'rules' about what is acceptable to do with a flag. If the banner for your party looks like the flag or has the flag on it then it breaks those rules.

Really?  HOw about the dudes in boxers made of flags?  Rule breaking?

It is not a legal thing. It's about respect for the flag. If a boxer is representing Australia, it doesn't bother me if he wears the flag. If the government uses the flag that is fine too. But the government and a political party are two different institutions.

So a political party is showing disrespect for the flag by using it?  Is that why it's not ok?

What about the Australians who do not support boxing as a sport?  Should they be able to say "don't use my flag" to the boxer?

So a political party is showing disrespect for the flag by using it?  Is that why it's not ok?

Pretty much. Plus there is the implicit claim of being 'more Australian' than other parties. I guess it's more that it is a false claim to represent the country.

What about the Australians who do not support boxing as a sport?  Should they be able to say "don't use my flag" to the boxer?

No. The boxer is representing the country, not the individual. Indivudals don't get to choose which wars are fought under our flag any more than what sports Australians represent our country in overseas.

deepthought wrote on Feb 21^st, 2008 at 4:04pm:

Really?  HOw about the dudes in boxers made of flags?  Rule breaking?

Hi! I'm back!

I once read somewhere that the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin as a persoanl joke loves to wearing boxer shorts with the US flag print. He alledgedly boasted that it gives him a kick to know that either the USA is kissing his arse, his fat arse is sitting on the US or that he's farting in the face of the Americans.

;D ;D ;D

freediver wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2008 at 12:57pm:

Pretty much. Plus there is the implicit claim of being 'more Australian' than other parties. I guess it's more that it is a false claim to represent the country.

But they do represent the country, or at least a majority of it, based on the result of the last election.

The government does, not the party. They are two different institutions.

Now you're just being picky.  Who cares if Labor uses the flag or the Southern Cross, really?

I've got D*ck Smith's number if you aren't happy with his biscuit packaging  ::).  What about the Commonwealth Bank?

I think the commonwealth bank logo is defferent enough from the flag. I was actually thinking of some liberal party banners I saw, not Labor.