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


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                  1        Short title ............................................................................................ 1
                  2        Commencement .................................................................................. 2
                  3        Object of Act....................................................................................... 2
                  4        Schedule(s) ......................................................................................... 2

Schedule 1--Amendme nt of the Flags Act 1953                                                                                       3




i   Flags (Protection of Australian Flags) Amendment Bill 2008                           No.        , 2008


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 2   prevent the desecration or wilful destruction of
 3   Australian Flags, and for related purposes
 4   Preamble
 5              Whereas the Australian National Flag is the national symbol of the
 6              identity of the Commonwealth of Australia and its people, and
 7              Desiring to protect the Australian National Flag and other
 8              proclaimed Flags from desecration or wilful destruction:

 9   The Parliament of Australia enacts:
10   1 Short title
11              This Act may be cited as the Flags (Protection of Australian
12              Flags) Amendment Act 2008.




               Flags (Protection of Australian Flags) Amendment Bill 2008   No.   , 2008   1


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

 4   3 Object of Act
 5              The object of this Act is to amend the Flags Act 1953 to protect the
 6              Australian National Flag and any other flag proclaimed by the
 7              Governor-General in accordance with section 5 of the Flags Act
 8              1953 from desecration or wilful destruction.

 9   4 Schedule(s)
10              Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or
11              repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule
12              concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect
13              according to its terms.
14




     2    Flags (Protection of Australian Flags) Amendment Bill 2008   No.   , 2008


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 1
 2   Schedule 1--Amendment of the Flags Act
 3         1953
 4

 5   1 After section 7
 6         Insert:

 7   7A Desecration or destruction of the Australian National Flag or a
 8            proclaimed flag
 9          (1) It is an offence for a person, without reasonable excuse, to wilfully
10              damage or destroy in any manner, burn or deface, defile, mutilate
11              or trample upon or otherwise desecrate:
12                (a) the Australian National Flag; or
13                (b) any other flag proclaimed by the Governor-General in
14                     accordance with section 5.
15              Penalty:
16               (a) 2 penalty units; or
17               (b) a community service order.
18          (2) In proceedings for an offence against subsection (1), it is a defence
19              if the person has destroyed, burnt or otherwise dealt with the
20              Australian National Flag or a proclaimed flag in accordance with
21              subsection (1) because it has become worn, soiled or damaged in
22              normal usage.
23              Note 1:    Proclaimed flags include the Australian Aboriginal Flag, the Torres
24                         Strait Islander Flag, the Australian Defence Force Ensign, the Royal
25                         Australian Air Force Ensign and the Australian White Ensign.
26              Note 2:    Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of
27                         criminal responsibility.




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