The Northern Territory government has ordered pride flags to be removed from multiple hospitals, saying they were against policy.
The flags were removed from the Royal Darwin and Palmerston hospitals on Tuesday, with NT Health Minister Steve Edgington saying the display did not comply with "protocol".
"The long-standing Northern Territory government protocol is to fly the Australian, Northern Territory and Aboriginal flags," he said.
"All NT health facilities are required to comply with this protocol, and it was recently identified that some flag displays at hospitals were not compliant.
"Consequently, these displays have been amended."
NT News reported Torres Strait Islander flags were also removed from hospitals.
While Edgington said the protocol is to fly the Australian, NT, and Aboriginal flags, he did not mention the Torres Strait Islander flags.
This comes despite the NT government's Gender Equity Action Plan 2022-2025 highlighting the hospital flags as a "key achievement" in supporting gender-diverse people.
"Northern Territory Health Services and sub-contracted service providers upgrading their entrances, flyers, waiting rooms and bathrooms to be more inclusive. For example, the pride rainbow flag and other flags supporting gender identity diverse people are displayed in hospital foyers and other public spaces," the plan states.
'Cheap political moves'
The decision to take down the rainbow and transgender flags has sparked criticism from the Territory's Opposition.
Former deputy chief minister Chansey Paech labelled the action as "hateful".
"I think the health minister, Steve Edgington, should be focused on delivering better health outcomes for Territorians, not steering division in our community, because we need in the space of health leadership that brings us together, not pulls us apart," he said.
"Safe spaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as our rainbow community, are an important part of ensuring inclusive, comprehensive health care is provided.
"It's hateful, and these are token gestures aimed at appeasing the right and, do nothing to solve the real issues.
"We absolutely need a health minister that's going to have leadership that focuses on meaningful change, not cheap political moves."
Paech said policies could be amended to permit the display of pride flags in hospitals.
"They can absolutely review those protocols and make it possible to have those flags flying where they should be."
