Scott Morrison has refused to comment on the origins of the patriotic Australian flag lapel pins he has issued to each member of his cabinet.
The newly-appointed Prime Minister gave a pin to each of his ministers at their first meeting in Canberra on Tuesday.
‘The reason I wear it is because it reminds me every single day whose side I’m on,’ Mr Morrison said when dishing out the pins.
‘I’m on the side of the Australian people, that’s what I’m saying to myself, that’s who I think about first.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Morrison several times to confirm the origins of the pins but he has refused to confirm where they were bought or made, and how much they cost.
Scott Morrison (pictured with wife Jenny) has refused to comment on the origins of the patriotic Australian flag lapel pins he has issued to each cabinet minister
The newly-appointed Prime Minister gave a pin to each of his ministers at their first meeting in Canberra on Tuesday
Mr Morrison posted a photo of one of the pins to Twitter, and followers speculated that the lapel flag pins were made in China rather than Australia.
Sam Dastyari’s political career was ended due to his own links to China, and the former Labor senator told Daily Mail Australia the pins were ‘idiotic’.
‘What a dumb stunt. It’s very American president which gives a lot of politicians a h*** on,’ Mr Dastyari said.
‘I tried to mail him one this week of halal snack packs that we made a few years ago but still haven’t gotten a response.’
At the first meeting of his new-look cabinet, Mr Morrison said he has been wearing an Australian flag pin on the lapel of his suit jacket for ‘many, many years’.
‘I can’t remember when I started doing this,’ Mr Morrison said.
Mr Morrison said he wanted the pin to serve as a reminder to his ministers as to who they were representing.
Mr Morrison posted a photo of one of the pins to Twitter, saying he wears one because it ‘reminds me every single day whose side I’m on’
‘We’re going to redefine what fairness means in the country, fairness means a fair go for those who have a go,’ he said.
‘We’re going to get electricity prices down. Now you’re all standing with me, to create an even stronger Australia.’
Flag lapel pins have long been used by U.S. presidents including current leader Donald Trump, who was the only one of the world leaders at the G20 summit in Hamburg in 2017 to not wear a special pin made for the event – choosing to wear his American flag pin instead.
After sharing the photo, Twitter users speculated on the origin of the pins, with one user suggesting they were ‘made in China’