National Gallery of Australia says it covered Palestinian flags on tapestry after security assessment

<p>Critics say NGA decision ‘is nothing less than a disgraceful act of censorship’ that is ‘rooted in political cowardice’</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/feb/21/australia-news-live-rba-michele-bullock-interest-rates-cost-of-living-election-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></li><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>The National Gallery of Australia claims it covered Palestinian flags in a major exhibition after undertaking a security threat assessment, but critics say the decision was “rooted in political cowardice”.</p><p>The Guardian this week revealed two Palestinian flags on a large tapestry hanging in an exhibition currently showing in Canberra have been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/feb/20/palestinian-flags-covered-nga-gallery-exhibition-ntwnfb">covered with white fabric</a>.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/21/national-gallery-of-australia-says-it-covered-palestinian-flags-on-tapestry-after-security-assessment-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>