Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian Greens will not be supporting Senator Anning's motion. Senator Anning says that people have fought in wars to protect the flag. People fight in wars to preserve the rights we have in our democracy—that's what those wars are fought over. Those rights include the right of people to engage in peaceful protest, and, for some people, that may involve burning the flag, an action that should not be criminalised. For many people, the flag symbolises years of oppression. That's particularly true for First Nations people. In fact, Victorian Greens MP Lydia Thorpe, the first Aboriginal woman in the Victorian parliament, has stated that the Australian flag doesn't represent her. Many First Nations people see it as an ongoing symbol of oppression and genocide. How about having a genuine debate? Let's change the date we celebrate Australia Day, and let's change the flag while we're at it.