Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate notes:

(a) that 3 September 2017 was Australian National Flag Day which celebrates the occasion the Australian National Flag was first flown in Melbourne in 1901;

(b) the date of 3 September was first recognised as Australian National Flag Day in 1996 by then Governor-General Sir William Deane as the date for commemorating Australia's National Flag;

(c) the Australian National Flag enjoys strong community endorsement as the pre-eminent Australian national symbol; and

(d) the Australian National Flag is an expression of Australia's democratic values such as freedom of speech, rule of law and freedom of association.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move an amendment to the motion.

Leave granted.

I move:

At the end of the motion add:

(e) however, while the current flag has served its purpose in Australia's past, it is time for a new flag for our shared future that doesn't hoist Australians with UK heritage above all others.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government opposes the amendment, as it substantially changes the intent of the motion. The Liberal-National Party government will never change the flag, nor will we shift Australia Day, nor will we be tearing down statues or chiselling off plaques or rewriting history. We are very proud of the flag and we will continue to fly the flag as long as we are in government.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Siewert be agreed to.

Question negatived.

The question now is that the motion moved by Senator Smith be agreed to.

Question agreed to.