Mornington Peninsula council has voted against flying Aboriginal flag at half mast on January 26

A Mornington Peninsula councillor has vowed to keep fighting after losing a bid to lower the Aboriginal flag on January 26.

Mornington Peninsula Shire has knocked back an emotional plea to fly the Aboriginal flag at half mast on Australia Day.

Cr Sarah Race wanted the shire to lower the flag to honour First Nation’s’ “day of mourning”.

“It seems unfathomable to have another year go by when as a council we do not recognise the complexity of this day,’ Cr Race said.

The proposal sparked an angry response from locals who called it “divisive and racist” when it when it was first floated for discussion at a December 7 meeting.

And, despite many councillors supporting reconciliation, the flag plan was rejected on Tuesday night.

Deputy mayor Lisa Dixon was worried the wider community had not been included in the debate.

“Making a decision without discussion with our community is not OK,” she said.

Cr Race argued that “sometimes it is easier to seek forgiveness than permission when one is doing the right thing for the right reasons”.

She said the region had “the fastest growing indigenous population in Victoria” and revealed she had promised First Nation’s people that she would “amplify their collective voice” in the council chamber.

“The 26th of January will never be considered a day of celebration by our indigenous Australians,” Cr Race said.

Cr Susan Bissinger questioned how much support there was for the flag plan among the region’s First Nation’s people.

“I think we have 1200 Aboriginal people on the peninsula, to not have a whisper from them... it can’t be that much of a sticking point

The council also sought advice from the Commonwealth Flag Master and was told that when one flag was flown at half mast, all flags should be lowered as a sign of respect.

A council report said there was no ability to fly the national flag at half mast on Australia Day.

COUNCIL FLOATS FLYING FLAG HALF MAST ON AUSTRALIA DAY

A bid to fly the Aboriginal flag at half mast on Australia Day across the Mornington Peninsula is “divisive and racist” say angry locals.

Mornington Peninsula councillor Sarah Race wants the flag to be lowered to recognise the sorrow First Nations people feel on the day they regard as a day of mourning.

The move follows a recent call by Yarra Council to ditch the Australian flag and fly the Aboriginal one at half mast on three occasions including January 26.

Cr Race said her proposal embraced Mornington Peninsula’s vision for reconciliation and had the support of the Bunurong Land Council.

However, a Leader online poll revealed most ratepayers did not support the move.

“All councils should concentrate on why they were elected,” Harold Roberts posted.

“Rates, roads and rubbish and keep their noses out of politics.

“We are over governed, get rid of councils.”

Another said the proposal would create division.

“Stop causing racism and division in our community. We’re all one people now,” Wendym Odgers posted.

Senior Fellow of The Centre for the Australian Way of Life Dr Sherry Sufi said Australia Day was meant to bring people together, regardless of their ancestry.

“This is clearly a divisive move that creates artificial barriers,” Dr Sufi said.

“Local councils should be focusing on getting the basics right, whether that’s rubbish collection or fixing potholes.

“Weighing in on identity politics is the last thing we need from this third tier of government.”

Not all Mornington Peninsula ratepayers were against the idea.

“I am all for compassion and forward thinking,” Caroline Parker posted.

Last month the Green’s dominated Yarra Council proposed lowering the Aboriginal flag to half mast on Australia Day, April 15 – the anniversary of the release of the National Report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and National Sorry Day on May 26.

Yarra Council was to vote on the proposal by independent councillor Bridgid O’Brien at a meeting on November 23 but the item was withdrawn until a later date.

Glen Eira Council flew its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at half mast on January 26, 2021 for the first time.

Some Aboriginal flags were flown at half mast in Ballarat on Australia Day this year out of respect for the town’s Survival Day Dawn Ceremony.

The council also cancelled its fireworks on advice from the Koorie Engagement Action Group.

The group, an advisory committee to the council, recommended abolishing the fireworks and lifestreaming the dawn ceremony which commemorates indigenous people who “fought in the frontier wars and those who died in widespread massacres across Australia during colonisation”.