“Our culture is equally as important”: Aboriginal flag freed

Proud Aboriginal Queenslander Larry Edey says the freeing of the Aboriginal Australian flag means his culture now has an emblem that is “equally as important” as the Australian flag in what he says is the “most amazing news ever”.

Proud Aboriginal Queenslander Larry Edey says the freeing of the Aboriginal Australian flag means his culture now has an emblem that is “equally as important” as the Australian flag in what he says is the “most amazing news ever”.

After years of complicated copyright battles, the federal government announced it has made the Australian Aboriginal free for public use.

Mr Edey, a Kariyarra man now living in Quandamooka Country Brisbane Bayside, said that the flag was something that represented his culture and to know that anyone could now access the flag without being held accountable for its use was “amazing”.

“There’s so many things that people can identify their heritage with, but for us, that flag is significantly built around our pride and our history,” he said.

“It’s so good to know now that we have such an emblem that is equally as important as the Australian flag.”

Aboriginal dancer Goompi Ugerabah with the Aboriginal flag on Miami Beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Mr Edey said that he looked forward to a new chapter without restrictions associated with his flag, such as sports.

“I have friends who play for the Brisbane Lions, and when it came to the Indigenous rounds, they would say to me, ‘I just can’t believe we can’t have the flag as the centre bouncer’,” he explained.

“We used to have to hide within our own community when we wanted to use it [the flag], there were just so many restrictions but now I’m looking forward to buying a shirt without being afraid to be copyrighted.”

He said the freeing of the flag also meant that allies could “walk alongside them”, especially at rallies.

As “Invasion Day” approaches, Mr Edey acknowledged that some Australians may be hesitant to ‘change the date’, but wanted to remind people it was about history.

“For us, it’s all about our history and what has happened,” he said.

“I want to have that time where I can stand beside anyone and everybody and sing the national anthem and know that it is a united thing because we are Australian, all of us are Australian, and there is not that division any more.

“I get that people think it’s only 3.7 per cent of the population we’re trying to satisfy here, so why should we?

“Well, it doesn’t affect you, but it emotionally affects us – it will make us feel equal.”