A Morley resident has gone into City of Bayswater meetings flying the flag for national pride.
The City has four flags in its council chambers – the Australian, WA, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.
Morley resident Tony Green questioned the City about how the flags were displayed at its July 22 meeting.
He said the Australian flag should take “pride of place”.
“I’m here Mr Mayor to point out the flag arrangements are illegal,” Mr Green said.
“You’ve got the Australian flag lower than the Aboriginal flag and whatever else that flag is over there.
“The rule of flags is the Australian flag must always fly the highest.
“Please remedy that. There are people of my generation who are very, very keen on the flag being flown properly.”
Mr Green did not receive a response to his question at the meeting, but later in the week City CEO Andrew Brien confirmed to the Reporter the flags had been displayed incorrectly.
“As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, council meetings were temporarily held in the Embleton Room so social distancing requirements could be met,” he said.
“The flags were relocated as part of this process and were placed incorrectly upon their return to the chamber.
“This was an oversight on our behalf and the situation has since been rectified.
“The flag placement once again complies with the Australian National Flag Protocols.”
The websites of both the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet said the Australian national flag took precedence over all flags, including the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag, when flown in Australia or an Australian Territory.
The flag should not be flown in an “inferior” position.
“The superior position is based on the formation of the flagpoles in a set, not the height of the flag on the flagpole,” according to the Federal Government’s flag protocols.
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