Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Flags are important symbols. That's why it is unlawful in Australia to display the flag of listed terrorist organisations like Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic State and Neo-Nazi groups. None of those flags are welcome in our country, nor are people who support extremist ideology. But fair minded, law-abiding Australians can march on our streets and display Palestinian or Australian flags—as thousands did last month—without being labelled a terrorist or a Neo-Nazi, even if the marches are tainted by the unwelcome presence of people who support Islamic terrorism and Neo-Nazism.

Like most Australians, I prefer the Australian flag because my first allegiance is to this country and our people. Our flag speaks to who we are. The Union Jack reminds us that our tradition of ordered liberty under law and parliamentary democracy is British in origin, anchored in the Glorious Revolution of 1689 and the English Bill of Rights. That is a historical fact. The federation star reminds us that we are one people, one Commonwealth and one country, and the southern cross reminds us that we live down under, far from the ancients strife that has divided Europe and the Middle East over the millennia. We are different, and Australians want to keep it that way. That's why thousands unfurled our flag on Sunday.

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