As populism rises, the Australian flag is being used as a political tool – defining patriotism and drawing lines around national identity.

With the upsurge of populism in Australia there is also a renewed focus on the flag. In his victory speech on Saturday night, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas talked about Henry Lawson and patriotism: “We can and should wave our flag with pride”. But like Lawson, and unlike One Nation, said patriotism meant duty to a stranger and that diversity was our greatest strength.

In the run up to the election and with the surge in One Nation support, Malinauskas had said the concerns of outer-suburban and regional Australians must be a priority and “ I don’t think people putting the Australian flag on the aerial of their car should be looked at with disdain.”

In Canberra, new Liberal Leader Angus Taylor and new Nationals Leader Senator Matt Canavan have given their first press conferences in front of an array of ‘Aussie’ flags. No Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags in sight – something welcomed by their Facebook followers.

Last year Senator Nampijinpa Price and Senator Pauline Hanson both wore Australian flags into the Senate on National Flag Day. Both have called for the burning of the Australian flag to be criminalised.

Green Senator Nick McKim complained about Senator Price wrapping herself in the flag and asked whether it contravened the........

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