Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian flag flies on the shoulder of the Australian Defence Force. I've fought under its colours on the battlefield. Mates of mine who have been killed in battle, died in training or succumbed to their war within have had their coffins draped in the Australian flag. More than 20,000 people have had enough, have signed a document and have said, 'We want this government to legislate to make burning the Australian flag a criminal offence.' It's about time this happened, because the Australian flag is not a bit of cloth; it's a fabric that brings this nation together. Here are 20,000 signatures of those people from around the country. I seek leave to table this petition.

Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Has it been approved by the Standing Committee on Petitions?

Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It has not been through the committee.

Julian Hill (Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In this instance, leave will be granted, although, as the member knows, it is the proper form of the House where the petitions committee verify it is in the proper order.

Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is okay. The document will be forwarded, so you can notify your petitioners, member for Herbert, that it will now go to the petitions committee for consideration and will be accepted subject to confirmation that it conforms with the standing orders.