From the editor

IM
Updated July 13 2022 - 8:38am, first published July 12 2022 - 5:00am
From the editor
From the editor

Yarra City Council has managed to make itself a national laughing stock over its obsession with flying up to six flags on council halls and other buildings on various days to acknowledge a particular sexual identity.

You will be surprised to know that the council has a 14-member Rainbow Flag Advisory Committee, made up of community members and two councillors. As a result of its deliberations, the council is proposing to update its civic flag policy to replace the rainbow pride flag with a variation that is intersex-inclusive on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia and other occasions when that flag is flown. On specific other days, five other flags indicating a particular predisposition will be flown to indicate the council's support.

The move to change the flag policy is in the hallowed name of inclusivity when, in reality, every new flag added to the collection, by any form of logic, reduces inclusivity as it more narrowly defines its supporters.

This is not the council's job. It should be a given that the council supports all ratepayers - regardless of perceived sexual identity - without the need to display colourful bunting on council buildings - or devote council resources to this exercise.

Long live diversity, but the council should focus its resources on reducing debt and more efficient use of staff.

IM

Ian Moore

Editor