A COALITION MP who has turned our national flag into a fashion atrocity now wants burning the banner to be outlawed.

Member for the Queensland seat of Dawson, George Christensen, today introduced a private member’s bill he said would “end the hate crime against Aussies that is burning our flag”.

Mr Christensen’s bill would not cover using the flag as an item of clothing, as he has done with a shiny shirt. He also has spoken at rallies where many of those listening used the flag as capes, T-shirts and headwear.

media_camera This is not OK. Picture: Marc Robertson media_camera This is OK.

At other rallies called to attack extremist Islam, those gathered have even used the flag design for shorts.

Flag burning has been an issue bothering Mr Christensen for some time.

Last April, after a rally of his ideological opponents, he wrote: “Many people were surprised it is not against the law to burn the Australian flag in such a manner and they feel offended and threatened when they see these actions taking place in Australia and broadcast on the news.

“I have asked the Racial Discrimination Commissioner to investigate the protests to see if they are unlawful under Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.

media_camera Australian flags used as capes, shirts and boardshorts at the Take Back Australia Rally in Mackay. George Christensen MP was the guest speaker. Picture: Daryl Wright

“According to the Act, it is unlawful to perform any action in public that is likely to offend people of a particular race, religion, or national background. If sections of the Act can be applied to one race or nationality it must apply to all, whether a minority or the majority.”

Now he wants a specific law. He wants legislation “to make desecration of our national flag an illegal act, with potential jail time as a penalty”.

The issue has come up several times before and in January, 2006, then prime minister John Howard argued against criminalisation.

“I don’t think we achieve anything by making it a criminal offence. We only turn yahoo behaviour into martyrdom,” Mr Howard said.

Originally published as MP wants jail for flag burners