2008

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

THE SENATE

Presented and read a first time

Flags (Protection of Australian Flags) Amendment Bill 2008

No.      , 2008

(Senator Barnett)

A Bill for an Act to amend the Flags Act 1953 to prevent the desecration or wilful destruction of Australian flags, and for related purposes

Contents

1............ Short title............................................................................................ 1

2............ Commencement.................................................................................. 2

3............ Object of Act...................................................................................... 2

4............ Schedule(s).......................................................................................... 2

Schedule 1—Amendment of the Flags Act 1953                                                   3

A Bill for an Act to amend the Flags Act 1953 to prevent the desecration or wilful destruction of Australian Flags, and for related purposes

Preamble

                   Whereas the Australian National Flag is the national symbol of the identity of the Commonwealth of Australia and its people, and

                   Desiring to protect the Australian National Flag and other proclaimed Flags from desecration or wilful destruction:

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

                   This Act may be cited as the Flags (Protection of Australian Flags) Amendment Act 2008.

2  Commencement

                   This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

3  Object of Act

                   The object of this Act is to amend the Flags Act 1953 to protect the Australian National Flag and any other flag proclaimed by the Governor‑General in accordance with section 5 of the Flags Act 1953 from desecration or wilful destruction.

4  Schedule(s)

                   Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Amendment of the Flags Act 1953

1  After section 7

Insert:

7A  Desecration or destruction of the Australian National Flag or a proclaimed flag

             (1)  It is an offence for a person, without reasonable excuse, to wilfully damage or destroy in any manner, burn or deface, defile, mutilate or trample upon or otherwise desecrate:

                     (a)  the Australian National Flag; or

                     (b)  any other flag proclaimed by the Governor‑General in accordance with section 5.

Penalty:

                     (a)  2 penalty units; or

                     (b)  a community service order.

             (2)  In proceedings for an offence against subsection (1), it is a defence if the person has destroyed, burnt or otherwise dealt with the Australian National Flag or a proclaimed flag in accordance with subsection (1) because it has become worn, soiled or damaged in normal usage.

Note 1:       Proclaimed flags include the Australian Aboriginal Flag, the Torres Strait Islander Flag, the Australian Defence Force Ensign, the Royal Australian Air Force Ensign and the Australian White Ensign.

Note 2:       Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.