By Oliver Winn
A former national serviceman called upon the Yarra Ranges Council to include the Australian flag on digital and printed media.
Former national serviceman Chris Thiele said it only made sense to have all three flags on the council’s digital and printed correspondence, considering the three flags were flown outside of the council building.
“They can still have the acknowledgement to Country and fly the other flags as well, but it needs to be all three flags,” Mr Thiele said.
Councillors discussed the matter informally and there was mutual agreement from most councillors to include the flag alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on correspondence within council.
However, council said no formal decision has been made, and it shouldn’t be assumed that the informal meeting was confirmation of such a change being implemented.
“Yarra Ranges Council has been approached by members of the community seeking to include the Australian Flag on digital and printed material,” Yarra Ranges mayor Jim Child said.
“Council would like to clarify that no decision has been made in relation to the collective use of the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on Council’s digital and printed communications.”
“Council can confirm that a review of the council adopted Flag Policy is currently being undertaken in line with council’s obligation to review the policy within 12 months of an election and is due to be considered at council in the coming months,” Cr Child said.
Mr Thiele said he was pleased that there was support from the councillors informally and he would look forward to a decision being made in regards to the council’s flag policy
