Memorial for late Queen held up over Bundaberg council flag fail

A Queensland councillor has called out his council's decision to delay honouring the late Queen ahead of a “behind closed doors” meeting on Monday.

A Queensland councillor has been left fuming over delays to a public memorial service for the late Queen Elizabeth II after coming up against council red tape.

Bundaberg councillor Greg Barnes, whose division oversees the coastal community of Bargara, has been a long-time organiser of Anzac Day services on the scenic foreshore, and had been hopeful of organising an official service to acknowledge the passing of the Queen.

However, on Friday, Cr Barnes took to his social media to state there would be “no foreshore service for Her Majesty” on the weekend as planned.

“After many non-returned phone calls and email messages, I have finally been advised that, the Mayor Jack Dempsey has directed that the issue of flying the Union Jack will be deferred to a consultation meeting of the council on Monday,” he said.

Mr Barnes said the meeting would be held “behind closed doors”.

The Bargara Remembers Committee, to which Mr Barnes belongs, advised locals could instead attend services at their local churches.

Mr Barnes said the Union Jack would be flown when he attended a service at the Uniting Church.

A Bundaberg Regional Council spokesperson said the council had been following guidelines in its approach.

“Bundaberg Regional Council is following the government flag protocols to honour the memory of Her Majesty The Queen which outlines ‘flags are flown in the half-mast position as a sign of mourning’,” they said.