Senator HANSON (Queensland—Leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation and Pauline Hanson's One Nation Whip) (17:56): I move: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency: The need for the Senate to take immediate action to make it an offence to wilfully burn or desecrate the Australian National Flag. I can't remember a more inspiring sight than the sea of Australian flags waving in Canberra on Sunday. I can't remember when I felt more pride in my country and its unique, wonderful people. Our flag means so much to so many. It tells a story of who we are: the Aboriginal people who have lived for thousands of years under the eternal Southern Cross; the arrival of the First Fleet and the establishment of the British colonies of convicts and free settlers seeking a new life on a new frontier; and the creation of a new nation and federation of states united in common cause. Today it's National Flag Day. It was 124 years ago this very day when this flag was first flown. It followed a national competition to design the flag and a democratic vote to select it. This flag has represented our great nation since that day. It has been flown to represent us all over the world: on the battlefields of Gallipoli, Beersheba, the Western Front, the Kokoda Track, Tobruk, Long Tan and Kandahar; in the great cities and capitals of the world, flying over the sporting fields and at the Olympics where Australians have represented our nation with great distinction; on our iconic landmarks and in schools at our public institutions; in the front yards of countless patriots; and over the top of this very building, the seat of Australian democracy. It is the flag under which so many brave Australians fought and died in wars against tyranny, in defence of democracy and for our nation's survival. It is those sacrifices the Australian flag honours above all else. Shamefully, there are people who know what the flag means to so many Australians, and that's why they despise it. They despise our people and our nation for their stupid, narrow hateful causes, and due to the symbolic value of our flag, they choose to desecrate it. They choose to burn it in our streets. They object to Australian senators wearing our flag in this chamber, while they proudly drape themselves in a keffiyeh, a global symbol of Islamic terrorists. This is unbelievable. Representatives of the Australian people are banned from wearing our flag in the Australian parliament because a Greens senator objects. Remember that—a Greens senator. What the hell is wrong with you? The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, I'll ask you to mind your language, please. Senator HANSON: 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. Senator Ruston: A point of order. I just want to raise a point of order on the fact that we have a speakers list, agreed by the whips, and the coalition was due to speak next. I'm just wondering whether the clerk might be able to provide some advice in relation to the fact that the speakers list had determined that the call was to come to this side of the chamber. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Kovacic ): The advice from the clerk is that the speakers list is a guide, and, if there is a dispute as to the call, it should go side to side. Minister, you have to call.