Dai Le (Fowler, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I second the member for Mayo's bill. As many in the House know, I'm a proud Australian of Vietnamese heritage. In my first maiden speech, I came here wearing my traditional Vietnamese ao dai with the Australian flag design on it, and of course the Union Jack was slightly too big. But in the second speech, when I got re-elected last year, the design was proportioned. But what mattered was not the design; it was the meaning. That dress represents to me the merging of two worlds, the heritage of my birth and the country that became my home. It tells the story of my late mother, who chose Australia as a place of safety, opportunity and belonging for her children, and it reflects the journey of how we became Australian.

For me, and for many like me, the Australian national flag is not an abstract symbol. It is deeply personal. It unites us as one Australia. It carries a simple but powerful idea that, regardless of where we come from, what language we speak or what faith we practice, once we join this country, we stand together as Australians. My beautiful late mother came to this country seeking sanctuary. Under this flag, our family found safety, dignity and a future. For refugees and migrants, the flag is not just a fabric. It represents the promise that this country will protect you and that you in turn belong to it.

Australia has not always been perfect, and we continue to debate and reckon with our history. But, after decades of shared effort, we can say with confidence that Australia has forged a unique identity as a multicultural nation that lives together under one flag. That is why this bill, the Criminal Code Amendment (Flag Protection) Bill 2026, matters. This is not about silencing debate. It is about protecting the shared national symbol that represents unity, sanctuary and mutual respect. A poll conducted in August 2025 showed that 77 per cent of Australians believe burning the national flag should be against the law. This bill reflects the public sentiment and the respect Australians feel for their nation, which has given so much.

If we choose to come here, we must also choose to embrace what Australia stands for: fairness, opportunity and sanctuary. Respect for the flag reflects respect for the sanctuary that has welcomed generations of migrants and refugees. We are one people under one flag in one shared home, and it is our responsibility to protect that symbol of unity. I commend the bill to the House.

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