In the wake of at least two flag-flying controversies in other parts of the country in past months, Douglas Shire Council has re-committed to steadfastly fly four main flags on its flagpoles - for most of the time, anyway.

DSC councillors passed a motion last week to continue flying the Australian, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Queensland flags in the region, with a proviso to also allow for other flags such as the fire-service one to be flown at appropriate times such as the opening of a new station.

The resolution was brought on by at least two other flag-flying controversies which have taken place interstate across the past few months.

The Federation Council in southern NSW voted in November to stop flying the Aboriginal flag, with Mayor Cheryl Cook saying at the time the Australian flag was “the primary symbol of unity for all residents, regardless of background, and by focusing on the national flag in the chambers, council aims to represent the shire as a single, cohesive community under one sovereign emblem”.

And, in the inner-Melbourne council of Merri-bek City, councillors voted for a second time in September to begin flying the Palestinian flag in support of those who had died in Gaza since renewed fighting with Israel started up there in 2023, prompting a significant backlash from those who opposed the move.

In the Douglas Shire Council meeting last week, Cr Michael Rees said he had been “thinking about this for a while” after a poll showed there had been a significant rise in “patriotism or pride” among 18-24-year-olds in Australia across the past two years.