Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith criticised for directing council staff to lower Aboriginal flag after Voice referendum defeat

The Adelaide Lord Mayor has called for calm after a councillor lashed her decision to lower the Aboriginal flag to half-mast in the wake of the Voice referendum.

The Adelaide Lord Mayor has defended her decision to fly the Aboriginal flag at half-mast after Saturday’s referendum defeat – but one councillor has hit out over the “divisive” move.

Dr Jane Lomax-Smith told The Advertiser that Aboriginal flags flying on Adelaide Town Hall and Victoria Square were lowered on Tuesday following advice from Aboriginal representatives.

“Following a discussion with some members of the (City of Adelaide) Reconciliation Committee, I have agreed that lowering our Aboriginal flags is appropriate to demonstrate support for the Week of Silence following the result of the Voice referendum,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.

The council voted to endorse a “Yes” vote in May and allocated roughly 24 hours of staff time for organising events and resources.

The Aboriginal flag at half-mast on the Town Hall. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Speaking to FIVEaa on Wednesday, Dr Lomax-Smith said it was “not unreasonable” to show support for First Nations people in the wake of the referendum decision.

“I think that if people are struggling and saying that they feel hurt … and we can show some support for them, I’m happy to do that,” she said.

“I think that we should all take a deep breath and recognise that there are important things we can do.

“Moving the flag is a small gesture. If you don’t support it, I respect that for you. But I’ve made a decision.”

A statue of Queen Victoria in front of the Aboriginal flag at half-mast in Victoria Square. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Adelaide City councillor Henry Davis. Picture: Supplied

But councillor Henry Davis criticised the Lord Mayor’s decision, saying she had sidestepped elected members.

“The Lord Mayor absolutely had the capacity to bring it as a motion to council,” Cr Davis told The Advertiser.

“We had a committee meeting on Tuesday night and she could have called a special meeting to bring it to the council, but instead she took the elected members’ voices away and directed the staff herself.

“In my view she is just grandstanding over the failure of the Voice … it’s now very clear that the community never supported this proposal.”

Adelaide City Council’s policy says flags can be lowered “at the request of state or Australian governments” and “flags may be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning”.

Cr Davis said the gesture should be reserved for events such as Anzac Day and the deaths of significant public figures, rather than actions he sees as “political point-scoring”.

“If, say, a significant person in Adelaide dies, my understanding is that the city would fly flags at half-mast to recognise the individual,” he said.

“That’s when it should be lowered – to fly the flag at half-mast for the result of a democratic referendum, I think, is disrespectful to our history and customs.”

Earlier in the year, Cr Davis butted heads with the Lord Mayor after she asked for the customary Christian prayer not be read aloud before meetings.

She instead invited those present to “read the prayer as printed or reflect in a manner appropriate to their beliefs on these issues”.

The stoush ended in September after the councillors agreed to compromise by reading a “multi-faith prayer”.

Originally published as Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith criticised for directing council staff to lower Aboriginal flag after Voice referendum defeat