Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has withdrawn a proposed update to its flag policy after widespread backlash over concerns it could allow Council officers to prevent the Australian flag from being flown — a move that reflects a growing pattern of poor public engagement and policy missteps.
The draft policy, which was set to be debated at this week’s Council meeting, included a controversial clause that would have allowed senior officers to deny flag requests from councillors or the community unless an exemption was granted. The Herald Sun reported that this loophole effectively gave unelected staff the final say on what flags could be flown, including on significant national days such as ANZAC Day or Australia Day.
In response to mounting criticism, Council released a public statement on Monday confirming the report had been pulled and would be updated to “remove any reference to exemptions” before being rescheduled for a future meeting.
“We have received community feedback expressing concern about the Australian flag being ‘banned’ — this is incorrect,” the Council stated.
Despite the clarification, the incident has further eroded public confidence in the Shire’s decision-making. Many residents view it as another example of a Council that appears out of touch with community sentiment and ill-equipped to navigate issues of public interest.
This isn’t the first time the Shire has been accused of bungling its consultation process. Recent controversies over arts funding cuts, meeting transparency, and governance decisions have left some questioning whether community voices are being heard at all.
While the Council says it remains committed to “respectful dialogue and transparency”, the damage may already be done.
A revised version of the flag policy will now be developed, with Council expected to undertake further consultation before it returns to the chamber.
