Tuesday, 21 June 2022

Adam Bandt

I want also today to draw the house’s attention to the sad and disrespectful steps taken by Adam Bandt MHR to disrespect the Australian flag. It is a flag that is a very important flag. It actually reflects not just the British heritage of our legal and parliamentary institutions but also the Southern Cross, which is the geography of our nation, Victoria included. Also, importantly, that is the history back to Eureka and small business people revolting against taxation and excessive taxation. I also note the Federation Star, which actually reflects our system of governance and our long history of constitutional government. The idea of Mr Bandt disrespecting that is, I think, grave and sad, and I do say that we actually need to respect those who fought under the Australian flag. There are veterans who have fought under that flag. I think we can respect our history. We can respect our Indigenous backgrounds and we can respect our migrant backgrounds, but we should equally respect our flag and what it stands for too.