I migrated from Holland at just 8 years of age ... and proudly became an Australian citizen. I see our national flag as a symbol of this amazing country and its people.

Recently I attended a candidates forum at the Uniting Church in Kiama.

I was deeply saddened to see only two flags on display being the Aboriginal and Torres Strait flags.

The Australian national flag was not on display.

This in my opinion dishonours those many men and women who fought for our great country, many of whom would be attendees at this church and would be too polite to comment.

These same men and women would have fought for or served our nation during so many different wars and many other ways of representing our country.

I feel this lack of respect also dishonours all those people and their families who have obtained citizenship as migrants, or refugees fleeing conflict for a better life here in Australia

To me, this is not an example to set by a church which is supposed to be apolitical.

It seems that perhaps this Minister is setting a political agenda and uses her church to promote it or perhaps it was complete forgetfulness!

Joanna Gash AM JP

Former Member for Gilmore (1996-2013)

Former Mayor of the Shoalhaven City Council to 2021