Michael Johnson (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to condemn in the parliament those young Australians who, on the St Lucia campus of the University of Queensland last week during orientation week, sought to burn the Australian flag and offered other students flag-burning kits for $5 to join in the act of burning the Australian flag. This is an appalling gesture. It ought to be condemned absolutely and unequivocally and, as the federal member for Ryan representing the wonderful western suburbs of Brisbane, I do so here.

The Australian flag is a very powerful symbol for all of us. It has a special place in our community, our society and our nation. It is a symbol of national unity; it is a symbol of all the great things about our country—it defines our nationhood, our history and our Federation. I call upon all those in my community who support this view to contact my office and join with me in expressing absolute outrage at those young Australians who have taken this very important symbol of our country and desecrated it. In war, in sport and in the everyday life of our nation the flag has its place and its memory ought to be maintained in every possible way. Last week I had the great pleasure of visiting the Mount Crosby State School and saw the flag there.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! It being 9.30 pm, the debate is interrupted.