Flag burning
Helen Irving (SMH) is correct to identify flag burning as an act of free speech and political statement, even if offensive and insensitive, and place it in its full legal context. The principles of Australian democracy, underwritten and preserved by our Constitution, uphold that one's views and protests should not be suppressed because they are distasteful. By placing more caveats on these aspects of our law, governments only serve to reduce freedom of speech and democratic values in the community. Unfortunately, many legislative responses to terrorism have already made headway into this dangerous area. Bad opinions must be countered head on with good arguments, not by vilifying he or she who says them, locking them up to suppress protest. Ad Hominem responses are neither necessary nor satisfactory in modern democracies.
As a matter of personal decency, however, all Australian citizens have an obligation to respect their country, and their flag. Flag burning is offensive, ineffective and even childish. The best response to the Hurstville teenager was to sentence him for property offences, as happened. We can have faith in our courts that they are protecting our democracy.