Flags, patriotism and what Australia Day means to you.

With national leaders and ordinary Australians preparing to celebrate Australia Day on Tuesday, Martin has criticised the flag amid confirmation from Labor sources that a referendum on the republic debate will be called if Labor wins the federal election this year.

“I object to having the British flag in the corner of our flag,” Martin told the Herald Sun newspaper. “We have well and truly reached the point where we should have our own flag. I think we have to grow up and move on to the next stage.”

Martin is a board member of Ausflag, an apolitical group established in 1981 to agitate for the replacement of the flag with a new design. “I am going to add my name and voice to those who are talking the issue up and try to bring about a change,” Martin said. However, Victorian Premier John Brumby said the present flag was a symbol of resolve in bushfire-ravaged regions of Victoria. “As is the case with many Australians, my father and grandfather served our armed forces under our flag,” he said. “I remember seeing so many Australian flags in front yards in bushfire communities; it signified resilience and defiance and gave people solace.”

A Galaxy poll commissioned by News Limited has found 44 per cent of Australians are in favour of becoming a republic, with 27 per cent against. But the same poll shows 27 per cent of people want to remove the Union Jack from the flag, while 45 per cent want to retain the present flag.

It may be frowned upon to burn the Australian flag, but wearing it as a cape whilst off one’s face on Bundy and dry is fine, apparently. So is wrapping it around your head as a turban, pinning it around your tits as a boob tube, and writing “If You Don’t Love It – Leave” underneath to deter pesky gatecrashers threatening your way of life (said product advertised as follows on a shopping website: “A fantastic way to publically (sic) show your pride in our great country … with ATTITUDE!”). It’s not racism, god forbid we call it that. No, it’s patriotism, a thumb in the face of those fussy “UnAustralian” types, a way for true-blooded men and women to unite against a common enemy: fear.

And overall it’s a great pity, as I am very fond of my country. I like the people in it, I like the frank, robust way they speak. I like the inimitable, flat, overcooked air of our childhood summers and the impetuous, heart-on-sleeve way in which neighbours rush to assist others in times of natural disaster. But the last thing I’m going to do on Australia Day is wave a flag or get some sort of idiotic boxing Kangaroo tattooed to my calf. Because the very idea of national pride has been soiled by the t-shirt wearers who disguise hate in the name of allegiance. And I don’t know if we’ll ever get it back.