Liam McNally
Moorabool council has adopted a new Flag Flying policy which includes the use of the rainbow flag.
The policy codifies a schedule for which flags will be raised at what times at council’s principal office in Stead Street, Ballan, and civic office in Hallets Way, Darley.
Council moved to adopt the policy at a meeting on Wednesday, October 5.
It follows a council decision in April 2021 to reject a flag flying policy which would have allowed the rainbow flag to be flown at council buildings on LGBTIQA+ awareness days.
The rainbow flag is the only new addition to the policy, which is to be flown at each office on May 17 in recognition of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
The policy also includes an application form, which groups can use to apply to have their flag flown at the council offices on particular days.
Currently the council flies the Australian National Flag, the Victorian State Flag, and the Australian Aboriginal Flag at both offices, as well as the Moorabool Shire Pennant at the Darley office.
When flags other than these four are raised to recognise certain events, they will replace the Victorian State Flags.
Speaking at the council meeting, Victorian Pride Lobby Rainbow Local Government Campaign policy advisor Dr Sean Mulcahy said the campaign to fly the rainbow flag has received wonderful support from the community.
“What struck me from my time working with the community here in this campaign is that this is an incredibly diverse and welcoming community,” he said.
“We ask that you listen to the community and support the flying of the rainbow flag.”
Council received 46 submissions on the policy from community consultation, which was made available for the between September 8 and 27.
Council highlighted two key items from the submissions, one was “broad support for the policy,” and the other was asking why the Torres Strait Islander flag was not included.
Moorabool mayor Tom Sullivan voted against the recommendation.
Cr Sullivan’s main concern was that the inclusion of the rainbow flag in the policy, doesn’t follow the process that the policy itself set out for new flags.
He said that the number of submissions has set a “very low” threshold for new flags.
“We may end up with more flags than the United Nations out in New York with such a low threshold,” he said.
