Schools need More Than One Flag Pole

Every Australian school needs three flag poles to truly participate in symbolic flag flying, say the Australian Democrats.

Democrats Indigenous Affairs spokesperson, Senator Aden Ridgeway, said he welcomed the Government's commitment to national symbolism but that with NAIDOC Week approaching, many schools are finding they are a couple of flag poles short.

NAIDOC week offers the perfect opportunity for schools to symbolically acknowledge Indigenous people and cultures-especially their own Indigenous students, said Senator Ridgeway.

However, many schools are unable to externally fly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on their single flagpole, as they are bound by national flag protocols which require the Australian flag to have precedence over all other flags.

Having more than one flagpole means schools could also choose to fly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags every day of the year as an act of reconciliation.

A decision to fly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags is a decision of inclusion.

It is a symbol of unity not division which says Indigenous people are a valued part of our schools and community.

I call on all Australian Governments to assist their schools to ensure they are able to fly more than one flag at a time and for the Federal Government to show leadership by encouraging those schools who participate, concluded Senator Ridgeway.

Also see: Flag Poles

About The Author:

Nate Garth is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-flags.com. The flags of the world are symbols of recognition full of beauty and color for each country.