Backlash grows after Federation Council moves to take Indigenous flags out of chambers

Federation Council’s decision to remove Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags from its chambers in Corowa and Urana has triggered a sharp backlash, with opponents arguing the move cuts against both community sentiment and the council’s own reconciliation commitments.

The issue has become one of the most closely watched local government disputes in regional New South Wales in recent days, not only because of the symbolism of the flags themselves, but because of the scale of opposition recorded during consultation. More than 800 submissions were received, with the large majority calling for the flags to remain.

Council ultimately rejected draft Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protocols after a tied vote, but the flags are still set to come down because there was no formal resolution in place requiring them to stay. That procedural outcome has become a flashpoint in itself, with critics arguing the result ignores the substance of public feedback.

Reporting from the public forum and council meeting shows residents and supporters framed the flags as a basic sign of recognition rather than a partisan statement. Corowa resident Adrienne Hartnett told council she felt “physically sick” when she learned the proposal was under consideration, capturing the emotional weight the issue has carried for many locals.

Supporters of removal have argued the chamber should display only the Australian flag. Councillor David Bott told the meeting the national flag was the one symbol that represented everyone, while Mayor Cheryl Cook has maintained her position that a single flag in the chamber is appropriate for a place of governance.

But critics say that position is out of step with both contemporary practice and Federation Council’s own recent history. In 2022, the council publicly promoted the flying of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags as a sign of respect and as part of its reconciliation work. That earlier message is now being cited by opponents as evidence that the latest outcome represents a retreat rather than a clarification.

The dispute has also widened into a broader argument about how councils engage with First Nations communities. Speakers at the forum said the proposal should never have advanced without stronger consultation with affected communities, especially when the practical impact of keeping the flags in place was minimal.

What happens next will matter beyond Federation Council. The council says it will continue consultation as it works towards a Reconciliation Action Plan. But for many residents, the removal of the flags has already become a test of whether public institutions are serious about symbolic recognition when that recognition is contested.