The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags currently stand outside Federation Council chambers. Photo: Federation Council.
A Riverina council has taken steps to remove the Aboriginal flag from its chambers and to dial back on Welcome to Country ceremonies, which were described as “overused”.
On Tuesday (18 November), Federation Council voted to amend its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protocols to “exclusively fly the Australian flag” at its Urana and Corowa chambers and to ensure any Welcome to Country ceremonies must be approved by a council resolution.
At present, the Australian flag stands alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at both chambers. The amended protocols are now up for public exhibition. If adopted, the latter two flags will come down.
Mayor Cheryl Cook supported this change.
“Exclusively flying the Australian national flag in the chamber ensures a clear expression of civic neutrality,” she said during the council debate.
“A little over 97 per cent of council’s population do not identify as Indigenous … It’s timely that here today seek a more unified culture for all.”
“But I do agree that we must honour our Indigenous and we must honour our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders during special events.”
Cr Susan Wearne wanted to keep the Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait Islander flags in the chambers.
“I believe those three flags that sit here in our chamber are our national flags that have been recognised by our National Flag Act. I don’t see them as being as inclusive or exclusive,” she said.
“What I do take umbrage to is we’ve used a population percentage to possibly say that there’s not enough people of Aboriginal background in our community … I don’t think that is an appropriate comment to make.”
Cr Cook said that was never her attention and she’s not being dismissive of the 2.7 per cent.
Cr David Harrison agreed with Cr Wearne, saying that taking down the Aboriginal and Torres Strait flags would send a negative message to the community.
“I’ve never seen the flags as divisive … I see them as a celebration,” he said.
Cr David Bott supported the change, saying the Australian flag represented Indigenous people too.
“The very first inhabitants of this land would have … looked up at night, going back to the millenniums and saw the Southern Cross, so there’s recognition there and there’s also recognition in the colour of the flag that it’s [for] all migrants.”
Mayor Cook also said she had heard community concerns about the “cost and overuse” of Welcome to Country ceremonies, which is an Indigenous greeting (such as a dance or smoking ceremony) performed at events.
She said that using them too often “diminishes their cultural intent”.
She therefore proposed changing the draft protocols to ensure any Welcome to Country ceremony must be approved by a vote from councillors, rather than just decided on by council staff.
A majority of 5-4 councillors voted in favour of changing the protocols on both the flag and Welcome to Country. Councillors Cook, Bott, Nixon, Kennedy and Schoen voted in favour, while councillors Wearne, Harrison, Black and Bourke voted against it.
