Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

A petition created by One Nation to protect against this desecration has gained more than 50,000 signatures in just a few weeks. This petition gained a lot of momentum in the lead-up and immediate aftermath of Sunday's peaceful marches. It's time to protect this enduring symbol of our nation. It's time to outlaw for all time the wilful burning or desecration of the Australian flag—the only flag that has been endorsed and agreed upon by the Australian people. All senators in this chamber and in this parliament are on notice. If you don't support this motion, then you don't support Australia and its people and the flag which represents us all. You will directly insult the thousands of Australians who have served, fought and died under this flag and for this country. This is your opportunity to show the people you claim to represent that you love our country and its most potent and important symbol, the national flag. Australians will be watching, and they will remember what you do today. They will know where you stand, and I won't let them forget either.

One Nation stands for Australia and with its people. We stand for a united nation, under one flag: the Australian flag. It should be the only flag flying over our landmarks and institutions or in this chamber. It's the only flag the Australian people have ever voted for. No-one was ever given a vote on any other flags. This is the time to ensure the reverence our national flag deserves. We should bring back those assemblies in our schools where we all stood every morning while our flag was raised, and we must punish and penalise those who would desecrate our flag and disrespect our nation and the Australian people.

I just want to point out the comments today by Senator McKim. For him to say that he would wear the Palestinian flag on the floor of this parliament was so shameful and disgusting that I could not believe that he actually made that comment—that he would wear that. It shows exactly where his loyalties lie, and it's not with Australia or the Australian people, so I hope people never ever forget that.