Federation Council to remove Indigenous flags despite overwhelming community support
Protesters gathered outside the chambers during the Federation Council's meeting. (ABC News: Philippe Perez)
In short:
Indigenous flags will be removed from the chambers of Federation Council in southern New South Wales under procedural rules.
The council received more than 800 submissions, with more than three-quarters urging it not to remove the flags.
What's next?
The council will undertake further consultation to finalise a Reconciliation Action Plan.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags will be removed from the chambers of Federation Council in southern New South Wales, despite overwhelming opposition to the move.
Councillors met on Tuesday to discuss protocols allowing Indigenous flags to be displayed in the chamber on certain occasions only.
The council deferred a final decision pending the protocols, but decided to proceed with finalising a Reconciliation Action Plan.
However, under the council processes, it will mean the removal of the Indigenous flags from the council's chambers in the towns of Corowa and Urana.
Councillor David Bott spoke before a packed gallery, full of supporters calling for the flags to remain in the council chambers.
Cr Bott argued that there was never a formal motion to display the flags in the first place, and that they should be removed.
He said multiple flags encouraged division and only the Australian flag should be displayed.
"Regardless of what cultural background, regardless or what religion or political belief, the Australian flag is the only flag that embodies all of us," he said.
"Flying multiple flags encourages division, resentment and a sense of victimhood … [and] the Australian flag is the only national flag that we have, and as such is the only flag that needs to be displayed."
Deputy Mayor Rowena Black said 78 per cent of more than 800 community submissions supported keeping the flags.
"Flying all three flags … does not diminish, nor negate the Australian flag," Cr Black said.
"Acknowledging and flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags should not place people on the left or right of politics."
Cheryl Cook (right) says she was verbally abused about the decision to discuss flag placement. (ABC News: Philippe Perez)
Mayor received 'vitriol' over council decision
Federation Council Mayor Cheryl Cook referenced protocol documents stating that Indigenous flags need not be displayed.
She had anticipated criticism but said she was surprised by the level of insults received.
"Whilst I did expect some fallout, and it'd be very silly of me not to, what I didn't expect … was the extreme vitriol from some … of the activists," she said.
"The verbal and written intimidation to me personally told me I was a disgusting person, that I should resign, that I should leave the country, I'm a racist, I'm a bigot, I'm a neo-Nazi — none of which … are true."
She said the council was willing to fly Indigenous flags during NAIDOC and Reconciliation Weeks, which she highlighted were important to the local First Nations community.
The meeting was interrupted when those in the gallery called out, "You're not a victim", and other objections.
The council vote was 4-4 with one abstention, which counted as a vote against the motion.
As a result, the draft protocols were rejected.
General Manager Adrian Butler said as a matter of process, the Indigenous flags would be removed due to the lack of an original resolution to display them.
A second motion was then put forward to consult the community further on finalising a Reconciliation Action Plan, with councillors suggesting investing in flying flags outside buildings, rather than inside.
Iris Troutman says she is "disgusted" by the council's decision. (ABC News: Philippe Perez)
'This is going backwards'
Iris Troutman, a Kooma, Kamiliroi and Ngarabal woman and CEO of Many Mobs Indigenous Corporation, said she was disgusted by the decision.
"It's all a table of white fellas trying to tell us how they're going to represent black fellas," she said.
"You know, it's 2026. This is going backwards. We want to step forward."
Ms Troutman said she had worked with Federation Council for over a decade, assisting with its annual NAIDOC and Reconciliation Week events.
"I was there when they first brought the flags into the chambers and I was excited," she said.
"I was like, 'Wow, this is a shire that's going to show other shires how it's going to be done.'"
Corowa resident Adrienne Harnett, from the Koa, Wakka Wakka and Kamilaroi nations, said she felt shame and was embarrassed to live in the region when the council first touted the flag's removal last year.
She said she remained confused about why council could not make a clear ruling on the issue today, and did not believe further consultation was needed.
"If 78 per cent of the 884 submissions say they want to keep the flags up, how was that not enough consultation?" she said.
Adrienne Hartnett says flying Indigenous flags sends an important signal to residents. (ABC News: Philippe Perez)
Ms Hartnett said displaying the flags in the council chamber sent a strong message to the wider community.
'We see the flags when we watch the news, we see them on TV, we see them in articles," she said.
"I think [the councillors] they're a bit unaware [of] how tuned in the community is.
"You can just log on to the Federation Council website at any time and look at any agenda item you're interested in and see the [meeting livestream] video there — in the background, those flags are there."