DAREBIN: Palestine flag lowered
The Palestinian Flag will cease flying from Darebin Council flagpoles, following a vote of Councillors last week.
Removal of the flag “will take place with a brief and respectful ceremony to recognise the flag’s significance to many members of our community and the broader values of dignity, human rights, and peaceful expression”, said a Council statement.
The policy is to come into full effect within 10 working days of last week’s Council meeting On Tuesday (Mar. 24).
The local government watchdog, Council Watch Victoria Inc., said: “ After months of chaos, shouting and political theatre, Darebin Council has voted to remove all international flags – including the Palestinian flag.
“The flag will be respectfully lowered and will not fly again.
“Community feedback was clear: ratepayers want neutrality, not activism. This decision restores balance and brings the focus back to what councils are actually meant to do.
“Darebin is now unlikely to fly international flags as it refocuses on local issues the community expects council to deliver – roads, waste, parks and core services.
“All Victorian councils should now follow suit and stop flying international flags. Picking sides in overseas conflicts is not the role of local government. Ratepayers expect service delivery, not symbolic politics.”
A Darebin Council representative said that the new flag policy sets out the municipality’s management of flags on Council-managed flagpoles.
“[It] embeds Council’s long-standing practice of flying the Australian Flag, Aboriginal Flag and Torres Strait Islander Flag at five sites across Darebin.
“The policy also supports the ongoing presence of the Progress Pride Flag at Bundoora Homestead and details flags that will be flown in association with Days of Observance.
“The community will be able to request that Council considers flying other flags on community flagpoles, with guidance outlined in the policy, however no international flags shall be flown, unless required by legislation.
“Council undertook community engagement on the draft Flag Policy from January 16 to February 5, and the community feedback informed Council’s consideration and finalisation of the policy.”
The flag debate took 90 minutes, with Mayor Cr Emily Dimitriadis repeatedly calling for order. Voting against the motion were Crs Villella, Jelley and Sangster.