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Council should be sacked for not flying Aboriginal flag in Naidoc week, says MP Council should be sacked for not flying Aboriginal flag in Naidoc week, says MP
(3 months later)
The entire Carnarvon council should be sacked after refusing to fly the Aboriginal flag during Naidoc week, the local MP says.The entire Carnarvon council should be sacked after refusing to fly the Aboriginal flag during Naidoc week, the local MP says.
The Western Australian council was equally divided in voting on the matter at a meeting this week, until the president, Karl Brandenburg, cast the deciding no.The Western Australian council was equally divided in voting on the matter at a meeting this week, until the president, Karl Brandenburg, cast the deciding no.
The decision sparked peaceful protests in the town but also threats to Brandenburg, he says, leaving his wife and children fearing for their safety.The decision sparked peaceful protests in the town but also threats to Brandenburg, he says, leaving his wife and children fearing for their safety.
The furore has attracted not just the attention of the national media but criticism from Labor, Liberal and National MPs.The furore has attracted not just the attention of the national media but criticism from Labor, Liberal and National MPs.
The premier, Colin Barnett; the shadow treasurer, Ben Wyatt; and local MP Vince Catania have offered to give the town an Aboriginal flag, but Brandenburg insists the Australian flag will fly alone outside the council chambers during National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee week.The premier, Colin Barnett; the shadow treasurer, Ben Wyatt; and local MP Vince Catania have offered to give the town an Aboriginal flag, but Brandenburg insists the Australian flag will fly alone outside the council chambers during National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee week.
Related: Western Australian council votes against flying Aboriginal flag
He said on Friday a far more pressing matter in Carnarvon was Indigenous youth committing crime, which he believes is a result of their parents abusing methamphetamine and being too “out of it” to care for them properly.He said on Friday a far more pressing matter in Carnarvon was Indigenous youth committing crime, which he believes is a result of their parents abusing methamphetamine and being too “out of it” to care for them properly.
Brandenburg said politicians should focus on the town’s real needs, not fuss over the symbolic importance of a flag.Brandenburg said politicians should focus on the town’s real needs, not fuss over the symbolic importance of a flag.
“The unfortunate youth have been left to roam the streets and commit crimes and try to break in to get food,” he said.“The unfortunate youth have been left to roam the streets and commit crimes and try to break in to get food,” he said.
“There’s a huge problem in Carnarvon and it’s fantastic that they [politicians] want to support flying the flag but I’d rather they support children who are starving in the streets.“There’s a huge problem in Carnarvon and it’s fantastic that they [politicians] want to support flying the flag but I’d rather they support children who are starving in the streets.
“The kids are just left to their own devices. They’re like orphans – that’s how sad it is. So if I can seize on this opportunity to bring attention to that, I’ll leave the flag exactly where it is.”“The kids are just left to their own devices. They’re like orphans – that’s how sad it is. So if I can seize on this opportunity to bring attention to that, I’ll leave the flag exactly where it is.”
Brandenburg said he remained of the view that flying the Aboriginal flag outside council chambers would be “divisive” but he was happy for it to be displayed anywhere else in town.Brandenburg said he remained of the view that flying the Aboriginal flag outside council chambers would be “divisive” but he was happy for it to be displayed anywhere else in town.
“Everybody is very keen to make out that I’m a racist and I’m doing the wrong thing, but I still stand by my statements that it is divisive and we’re all Australian, and we should fly under one flag.”“Everybody is very keen to make out that I’m a racist and I’m doing the wrong thing, but I still stand by my statements that it is divisive and we’re all Australian, and we should fly under one flag.”
Vince Catania said Brandenburg and the rest of the council should be sacked.Vince Catania said Brandenburg and the rest of the council should be sacked.
“There’s a systemic cultural problem at that shire,” he said.“There’s a systemic cultural problem at that shire,” he said.
Catania said he was considering introducing a private member’s bill to parliament to force councils in the state to fly the Aboriginal flag alongside the Australian and WA flags.Catania said he was considering introducing a private member’s bill to parliament to force councils in the state to fly the Aboriginal flag alongside the Australian and WA flags.