In a move that has stunned Australia and divided the nation, tennis star Alex de Minaur has publicly demanded a complete nationwide ban on flag burning, calling for the immediate deportation or imprisonment of anyone who desecrates the Australian flag. The 26-year-old world No. 8, widely regarded as the country’s most beloved and consistent sporting ambassador, made the explosive call following a highly publicized incident during Invasion Day protests in Sydney, where a man was filmed setting the national flag ablaze in front of a large crowd.

“Deport them from Australia or jail them, because Australia cannot survive with people like that,” de Minaur declared in a statement released through his management team and amplified across his social media channels. The words, delivered with uncharacteristic bluntness from a player usually known for his measured, diplomatic demeanor, ignited an immediate firestorm of support, outrage, and intense national debate.

The incident that sparked de Minaur’s intervention occurred on January 26, 2026—Invasion Day/Australia Day—when protests in Sydney’s Hyde Park turned heated. Video footage, which has since been viewed millions of times, shows a protester deliberately igniting the Australian flag while chanting slogans critical of colonialism and ongoing Indigenous rights issues. Police arrested the individual on public order charges, but no specific flag-desecration offense was laid, as Australia currently has no federal law criminalizing the act of burning the national flag.

De Minaur’s response came just hours after the footage went viral. In a rare foray into politics for the usually apolitical athlete, he posted a photo of himself holding the Australian flag at the Australian Open, accompanied by a strongly worded caption:

“The flag represents every Australian who has fought, worked, and sacrificed for this country. Burning it is not free speech—it is an attack on our shared identity. We need a national ban on flag burning. Deport those who do it or send them to prison. Anything less is a betrayal of what Australia stands for.”

Within 24 hours, a snap poll conducted by Newspoll showed that more than 85% of respondents agreed with de Minaur’s call for tougher penalties, including deportation for non-citizens or imprisonment for citizens who burn the flag. The overwhelming public backing—particularly strong in regional areas and among older demographics—has placed immense pressure on the Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, to respond.

Yet the government has so far resisted. In a press conference the following day, the Attorney-General stated that while flag burning is “deeply offensive to many Australians,” introducing a specific criminal prohibition would raise serious questions about freedom of expression under the implied constitutional right to political communication. “We do not believe criminalizing symbolic acts is the right path forward,” the statement read.

Labor MPs have privately indicated they are likely to vote against any private member’s bill that attempts to criminalize flag desecration, citing concerns over international human rights obligations and the risk of the law being struck down by the High Court.

This perceived inaction has drawn fierce criticism from conservative commentators, One Nation senators, and now—most strikingly—from de Minaur himself. In a follow-up interview with Channel Nine’s Today show, the tennis star delivered a 10-word statement that has sent the country into overdrive:

“You protect the flag or you lose the nation—simple as that.”

Those ten words, spoken calmly but with unmistakable conviction, were immediately clipped, shared, and dissected across every platform. Supporters hailed it as a rare moment of clarity from a high-profile athlete unafraid to speak on national identity. Critics accused de Minaur of oversimplifying a complex issue and injecting divisive politics into sport. Social media exploded: #ProtectTheFlag trended alongside #DeMinAurPolitics and #BoycottAlex, with thousands of comments accusing him of everything from patriotism to performative nationalism.

The controversy has exposed deep fault lines in Australian society. For many, the flag is a sacred symbol of shared sacrifice—Anzacs, migrants who built the nation, first responders, and everyday Australians. Burning it is seen as an unforgivable rejection of that collective story. For others, particularly Indigenous activists and progressive voices, the flag remains tied to a history of dispossession and injustice; burning it is a legitimate form of protest against ongoing failures in reconciliation, treaty, and truth-telling.

De Minaur, who has always represented Australia with quiet pride—wearing the green and gold at every Davis Cup tie, speaking warmly of home during overseas tournaments—has never before waded into such territory. His intervention is being interpreted by some as a sign of growing frustration among mainstream Australians with what they perceive as elite indifference to national symbols and values.

Prominent figures have weighed in. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott praised de Minaur for “showing the courage most politicians lack.” Indigenous leader Noel Pearson called the call for deportation “dangerously simplistic and unhelpful.” Human Rights Law Centre director Ben Schokman warned that any ban could set a “dangerous precedent” for restricting political expression. Even within tennis circles, opinions are split: some players privately support de Minaur’s stance, while others worry it risks politicizing the sport.

As the debate rages, de Minaur has returned to the court at the Rotterdam Open, where he is the top seed following withdrawals from higher-ranked players. Yet every press conference now includes questions about the flag controversy rather than his forehand or upcoming matches. When asked whether he regrets speaking out, de Minaur replied simply: “I spoke from the heart. I’ll always stand up for what Australia means to me.”

The government’s refusal to act has only intensified calls for a referendum or private member’s bill on flag protection. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has already vowed to introduce legislation in the Senate, citing de Minaur’s intervention as proof that “ordinary Australians are fed up.”

Whether this becomes a lasting political flashpoint or fades as the next news cycle arrives remains uncertain. What is clear is that Alex de Minaur—once known solely for his speed, sportsmanship, and relentless fight on court—has stepped into a far bigger arena. In doing so, he has forced Australia to confront uncomfortable questions about identity, symbolism, freedom, and what it truly means to belong to this nation.

For millions of Australians, his 10-word declaration—“You protect the flag or you lose the nation—simple as that”—has become a rallying cry. For others, it is a dangerous oversimplification. But one thing is undeniable: the quiet kid from Sydney’s west has just made the loudest political statement of any active Australian athlete in recent memory.

And the conversation he started is far from over.