<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="" title="Queenslanders"><span>Queenslanders</span></a><span> who burn the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australian"><span>Australian</span></a><span> flag in public could face jail time under new laws tabled by Katter's Australian Party (KAP).</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The motion, tabled in Queensland Parliament by Robbie Katter, son of Senator Bob Katter, would amend current laws and allow people to be jailed for six months if they publicly burn the Australian flag, as well as flags including the Union Jack, Commonwealth Star, and Southern Cross.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Katter shared an image on social media depicting him and fellow KAP MP Shane Knuth holding the Australian flag, arguing his viewpoint "should never be controversial."</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-23-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/a233896c-f0d2-4024-bd3c-3cce661a51ab" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Stunning footage shows Iran's ultimate act of defiance</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You can criticise the government. You can disagree with the direction of the country. But burning the Australian flag in public crosses that line," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That flag represents our people, our freedoms, and every Australian who has stood under it to serve."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He claimed he wasn't looking to ban protest, but that the Australian flag needed to be respected as a symbol that represented the entire nation.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-flag-burning-illegal-queensland-laws-katter-australia-party/67a05c30-9ae2-4b1f-b1f1-cc3898969307" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/measure-twice-cut-once-nervousness-grows-as-people-with-autism-face-ndis-exit/50b35621-d983-4e9d-9180-bf046563fa27" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Measure twice, cut once': Nervousness grows as people with autism face NDIS exit</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His law tabled would create a specific offence outlawing the burning of the Australian flag in public, with anyone found guilty of the offence being able to receive a maximum penalty of 40 penalty units or six months' imprisonment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In justification for the bill, Katter's submission said the flag is more than a physical object.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is a national emblem that represents the Commonwealth, the Australian people, and the country's shared civic identity," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Public acts of burning the flag, particularly where staged to provoke confrontation or intimidate others, may undermine social cohesion and create flashpoints for unrest."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></p></li><li><p><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w"><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></p></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>