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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Australia flag 'ban' sparks anger | Australia flag 'ban' sparks anger |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| There has been outrage in Australia over reports that people have been banned from taking the national flag to a pop concert. | There has been outrage in Australia over reports that people have been banned from taking the national flag to a pop concert. |
| Organisers of the Big Day Out were said to have taken the action fearing race riots like those in Sydney in 2005. | Organisers of the Big Day Out were said to have taken the action fearing race riots like those in Sydney in 2005. |
| They have now clarified that they will permit the flag, but have strongly discouraged people from bringing it. | They have now clarified that they will permit the flag, but have strongly discouraged people from bringing it. |
| Politicians and veteran groups have strongly condemned any move to prevent the use of the national flag. | Politicians and veteran groups have strongly condemned any move to prevent the use of the national flag. |
| "The proposition that the display of the Australian flag should ever be banned anywhere in Australia is offensive, and it will be to millions of Australians," Prime Minister John Howard told reporters. | "The proposition that the display of the Australian flag should ever be banned anywhere in Australia is offensive, and it will be to millions of Australians," Prime Minister John Howard told reporters. |
| Angry veterans | Angry veterans |
| The Big Day Out is Australia's biggest outdoor rock concert, held in Sydney and other major cities around the country. | The Big Day Out is Australia's biggest outdoor rock concert, held in Sydney and other major cities around the country. |
| It often features some of the world's most well-known bands, and tickets for this year's concert sold out in a matter of hours. | It often features some of the world's most well-known bands, and tickets for this year's concert sold out in a matter of hours. |
| But the concert has been hit by a blaze of publicity after organisers were reported to have said that any flag or headscarf featuring the national symbol would be confiscated at the gates of concert venues. | But the concert has been hit by a blaze of publicity after organisers were reported to have said that any flag or headscarf featuring the national symbol would be confiscated at the gates of concert venues. |
| They have since clarified their position, saying flags were never banned, but that they were simply trying to discourage people from bringing them to the event. | They have since clarified their position, saying flags were never banned, but that they were simply trying to discourage people from bringing them to the event. |
| Event producer Ken West said he was disturbed by clashes at last week's Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne between ethnic Croatian and Serbian fans. | Event producer Ken West said he was disturbed by clashes at last week's Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne between ethnic Croatian and Serbian fans. |
| He also said he was concerned by race riots on Sydney's Cronulla Beach just over a year ago, in which some of the rioters were draped in Australian flags. | He also said he was concerned by race riots on Sydney's Cronulla Beach just over a year ago, in which some of the rioters were draped in Australian flags. |
| "The Australian flag was being used as gang colours," he said. | "The Australian flag was being used as gang colours," he said. |
| The Big Day Out has already been brought forward 24 hours, to take place on Thursday, the eve of Australia's national day, to avoid any nationalistic overtones. | |
| The saga has prompted protests across the political spectrum - and especially from Australian war veterans, who say the flag is a symbol of national unity rather than division. | The saga has prompted protests across the political spectrum - and especially from Australian war veterans, who say the flag is a symbol of national unity rather than division. |
| Don Rowe, president of a veterans group in New South Wales state, said the event organisers were trying to bar a symbol which had served through two world wars. | Don Rowe, president of a veterans group in New South Wales state, said the event organisers were trying to bar a symbol which had served through two world wars. |
| Prime Minister John Howard added: "The event organisers should not ram their peculiar political views down the throats of young Australians who are only interested in a good day out." | Prime Minister John Howard added: "The event organisers should not ram their peculiar political views down the throats of young Australians who are only interested in a good day out." |