Randwick Council split on support for Harbour Bridge flag campaign
IT’S an issue that has split state politicians. And now it has split Randwick Council. Should the Aboriginal flag be flown on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge all year round? But why did the council get involved?
Southern Courier
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IT’S an issue that has split state politicians. And now it has split Randwick Council.
Should the Aboriginal flag be flown on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge all year round?
The Australian flag is a permanent fixture on the landmark but at present the Aboriginal flag flies just 15 days a year.
Randwick Mayor Lindsay Shurey introduced a mayoral minute at last night’s council meeting to support the campaign for the flag to be flown all year round.
But not everybody agreed with her proposal.
The Liberal Party’s Harry Stavrinos said Australians should be united under one flag.
“By flying two flags I believe we are creating division in the community,” he said. “I consider myself to be friends with everybody … at the end of the day when our Anzacs went and fought at Gallipoli and when our soldiers went and fought on Western Front and in Europe they fought under one flag.”
“That’s because the indigenous people were not recognised,” the mayor interjected.
Councillor Stavrinos went on to argue that it was a political stunt that would not solve the many issues facing the indigenous communities across Australia.
He said he had spent time in the indigenous community, adding: “I saw for myself what happens in these areas where there aren’t dry zones. People are physically and sexually abusing their own children and there are high rates of sexual abuse and young kids with STDs.”
Independent Cr Anthony Andrews backed Cr Stavrinos and criticised the mayor for raising the matter.
“Once again Randwick Council is getting involved in matters that have nothing to do with local government,” he said.
“This is once again a grandstanding motion by yourself which is nothing to do with local government.”
Cr Andrews criticised Mayor Shurey for doing the same with the marriage equality vote, adding: “I’m now waiting for a motion from the Greens to ban Australia Day.”
A number of councillors spoke in favour of the mayoral minute to support the flag to be flown all year round, including Greens councillor Murray Matson.
He said it is simply a way of acknowledging the 40,000 to 60,000 years before the First Fleet arrived.
“I think it is a good thing you are proposal this,” he said. “I think it leads to a healing of the nation and a maturity of our national and cultural views of ourselves.”
Cr Philipa Veitch, Greens, said it was a way of celebrating and recognising the indigenous community. “Shame on you,” she said to those opposing the motion.
Cr Noel D’Souza, independent, added: “The flying of the flag gives them an opportunity to say I Am, you are, we are Australians. It is not about the flag it is about the message it sends.”
The mayoral minute was narrowly passed with Mayor Lindsay Shurey, Cr Dylan Parker, Cr Philipa Veitch, Cr Noel D’Souza, Cr Murray Matson, Cr Carlos Da Rocha and Cr Kathy Neilson voting in favour.
Cr Anthony Andrews, Cr Harry Stavrinos, Cr Christie Hamilton, Cr Brendan Roberts and Cr Ted Seng voted against.
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