THE Australian Flag Society has labelled federal Labor leader Mark Latham's stance on the Eureka flag as a populist election ploy.
Society president Nigel Morris yesterday said Mr Latham's support of Ballarat MHR Catherine King's push to have the flag officially recognised and flown at Parliament House was an attempt at vote-
grabbing.
"It was a bit populist because he was visiting Ballarat at the time," Mr Morris said.
"I think it's just politically motivated. I think it's part of a push to glorify the Eureka Stockade."
In a whirlwind visit to Ballarat last week, Mr Latham pledged to fly the flag at Parliament House, if he became Prime Minister.
"To me Eureka and the spirit of Ballarat signifies the spirit of the nation, the spirit of struggle, people fighting for their rights, the larrikin tradition of dissent in our country that we should always keep
alive," Mr Latham said.
Ms King rejected the vote-grabbing allegations.
"I have been working for some time on this, and I have raised it at every opportunity on the anniversary of Eureka for at least the last two years," she said.
But Mr Morris said the flag had little relevance to today's society.
"Eureka has never had less relevance for Australia," he said.
"Outside of central Victoria - who would know about it?
"It's an historical flag. It's not in current use.
"There are other historical flags in Australia that are more significant, such as the Federation flag."
Mr Morris said the Eureka Stockade's significance had been embellished.
"It was an important historical event, but the impact it actually achieved is often exaggerated with the importance of the flag," he said.
Mr Morris said the society had the support of former Chief Justice Sir Harry Gibbs and Royal Australian Historical Society former president John Vaughan.
And he called for a public inquiry to be held into the flag.
"I also think that flags of Australia should be appointed by the Governor-General as head of state. I don't think Ms King's private member's bill, aimed at inserting the Eureka flag into the Flags Act,
is the right way to address the matter."
Ms King defended the party's stance.
"I continue to think that it's sad that they are unwilling to understand the importance of the Eureka flag within Australian history, and I warmly welcome Mark's support for ensuring that the Eureka
flag can fly within the federal parliamentary precinct."