I WOULD like to thank Mr Holdstock for his letter last week.
It provided great food for thought, and who doesn’t love a good discussion about council procedures and policies?
What has been raised is how Gannawarra Shire Council applies their flag policy. When does questioning council policy hypocrisy become bigotry?
That’s the thing about equality, we are all equal. No greater than, no lesser than.
To me, a human right is a right that every human holds. No exceptions.
Race, religion, gender, sexual preference, vaccination status, age, footy team of choice.
All equal.
The Council holds itself to this lofty ideal with Council Policy No.129, Diversity.
The original flying of the Rainbow Flag on Gannawarra Shire buildings came after a petition by Rainbow Local Government in 2022. RLG is, as their website states, a campaign co-ordinated by the Victorian Pride Lobby. Until recently RLG published the names of councillors around the state, rating them on whether they had taken “the pledge”. Cr Smith received his own unique rating of a skull and crossbones.
At the time there was no flag flying policy for the council.
In late 2023, I submitted a petition to fly a Dove flag for the only group of Shire residents who had been excluded from council buildings, libraries, and pools in my lifetime. This was in stark contrast to the Shire’s Diversity Policy, one which references the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. If limiting the spread of COVID-19 was the intent of the exclusion, then anyone entering should have required a negative PCR, yet no testing was required.
Mr Holdstock stated “the unjabbed absolutely did have a choice”, they did, much like Shire had a choice to stand by Policy No.129.
The Shire shelved the request to fly the Dove until they had developed a flag policy. Later, the Dove failed to fly, with councillors, sighting section 3.8 of the new policy. Which includes not to enter into agreements to raise flags that are religious, political or extremist groups or which may incite unrest or ill-feeling within the community.
A second request to fly the Rainbow Flag was put forward by Northern District Community Health in 2024. At the April Council meeting, a debate ensued, and the question remains, does the Rainbow Flag comply with Gannawarra Shire Policy?
The Shire recently consulted the community on the request, and results are pending.
I can only offer compassion to those who feel seeking equal rights, detracts from the rights of their group of choice.
Lloyd Polkinghorne,
Koondrook
