Says it all: An upside down flag was raised outside Peter Dutton’s electoral office

Sign of distress spotted outside Peter Dutton’s office as he makes a second bid to be Australia’s next Prime Minister

  • Upside down Australian flag was seen outside Peter Dutton’s electoral office
  • Flying a flag upside down is known internationally as a distress signal
  • Many social media commenters said the blunder sums up Australian politics
  • Cabinet ministers Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Mitch Fitfield resigned
  • The trio called on Malcolm Turnbull to hold vote, switched support to Mr Dutton

The Australian flag was seen flying upside down outside Peter Dutton’s electoral office on Thursday amid the Liberal leadership spill.

Flying a flag upside down is known internationally as a distress signal.

Once the blunder was discovered, an employee in Mr Dutton’s office in Dixon, north of Brisbane, pulled down the flag and flipped it the right way around.

A staff member at Peter Dutton's electoral office in Dixon had to fix the flag flop in front of camera crews

A staff member at Peter Dutton’s electoral office in Dixon had to fix the flag flop in front of camera crews

Opps: The Australian flag has been spotted flying upside down outside Peter Dutton's electoral office in Dixon

Opps: The Australian flag has been spotted flying upside down outside Peter Dutton’s electoral office in Dixon

Once the blunder was discovered, an employee in Mr Dutton's office had to pull the flag down and flip in the right way around

Once the blunder was discovered, an employee in Mr Dutton’s office had to pull the flag down and flip in the right way around

Dozens of people slammed the blunder on social media, with numerous commenters claiming it sums up Australian politics.

‘Lordy, if this isn’t a symbol for our times…’ one person said.

‘Has anyone got a pic of the Australian flag being hoisted upside-down outside Dutton’s electoral office? Dutton’s office staff have got that right – the country is in distress,’ another tweeted. 

Besieged Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership looked doomed on Thursday after three of his senior ministers announced they had tendered their resignations and called for a second leadership vote.

Social media has exploded with posts pointing out the gaffe, with many saying it sums up Australian politics

Social media has exploded with posts pointing out the gaffe, with many saying it sums up Australian politics

Cabinet ministers Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Mitch Fitfield have resigned.

The trio have called on Malcolm Turnbull to hold a vote and switched support to Mr Dutton.

Turnbull only won the Tuesday contest by seven votes. Dutton on Thursday publicly called for another leadership vote. 

Scott Morrison will run in a leadership ballot against Mr Dutton, with Greg Hunt replacing him as treasurer, and a backer of Mr Morrison said the Prime Minister intends to vacate his position to allow a two-way contest. 

Turnbull came to power in a party-room coup in September 2015 over former premier Tony Abbott, who also survived an internal leadership contest before his eventual defeat.

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