Adelaide Plains Council apologises for homophobic abuse sprayed on rainbow flag at Mallala

Organisers of the annual rainbow flag fiying event outside South Australian councils are appalled one has been sprayed with homophobic abuse.

Mallala Council’s rainbow flag was defaced. (File image)

A small regional council has apologised to the state’s LGBTIQ community for homophobic abuse sprayed on a rainbow flag.

The flag was being flown by the Adelaide Plains Council at a public oval at Mallala on Wednesday when it was painted with an offensive slur.

Organisers of the annual Feast Feastival write to councils across the state asking them to fly the rainbow flag during the month-long “Pridevember” event in November.

Of the state’s 67 councils, 27 agreed this year to participate either by flying the flag outside their offices or by displaying it somewhere within their council districts.

Most declined to fly rainbow flags, with some saying they did not have spare flagpoles, while others instead offering to hang banners and posters or do lighting displays.

This year’s Feast Festival has particular significance for the LGBTIQ community as Sunday marks the third anniversary of the same-sex marriage vote.

The Adelaide Plains Council offices at Mallala. Picture: Colin James

Feast chief executive Helen Sheldon said she was saddened by the desecration of the rainbow flag being flown by the Adelaide Plains Council.

“The council has chosen to fly the flag to show support for its local LGBTIQ communities, and that is a very important and positive statement,” she said.

“To have an individual or individuals take it upon themselves to deface the flag in this way reflects badly on the council.

“That is unfair and is a clear indication that the ‘yes’ vote to marriage equality has not

ended inequality and discrimination amongst LGBTIQ communities.

“There is still work to be done.”

Ms Sheldon said the Feast organisers would continue to work with councils “to help create the safe and inclusive environments to which everyone is entitled”.

Adelaide Hills Plains Council elected members with mayor Mark Wasley (front row, centre) and chief executive James Miller (back row, centre). Picture: Adelaide Plains Council

Mayor Mark Wasley issued a statement, saying the council was disappointed by what had happened. Staff hoisted another rainbow flag on Thursday.

Mr Wasley, a former police officer, said elected members unanimously voted in July to fly the flag during “Pridevember” to demonstrate their support for the LGBTIQ community.

“As a council, and as a community, we cannot condone this act of hate,” he said.

The incident at Mallala comes four years after a former director of the Mardi Gras in Sydney resigned shortly after becoming the council’s chief executive.

Katrina Marton received a payout of $180,000 and kept her council-provided vehicle when she quit seven months into a five-year contract following a series of disagreements with residents.

The Adelaide Plains Council recently has been the subject of calls by ratepayers for an independent investigation into a high staff turnover rate under Ms Marton’s replacement as chief executive, James Miller.

More than 40 employees have left the council’s 45-strong workforce since his appointment in 2016.

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