MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have acted to review its flag policy after the Australian flag was left off a kinder flyer, prompting a wave of public backlash. The flyer, which was recently circulated to encourage families to register their children in the shire’s kinder programs for 2026, included the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Pride flags – but not the Australian flag.
Cr Bruce Ranken raised the matter as an urgent business motion at the council’s 2 June meeting, noting the issue has “understandably raised concerns amongst many members of the community”.
His motion called for the shire to review its current flag protocols across all shire-managed properties and to “ensure the Australian national flag is displayed in the highest position of honour”, as well as be the “most prominent flag” whenever a flag is shown.
Ranken also asked that the shire’s flag policy not only be revised within 60 days but be controlled by councillors thereafter, meaning it would be taken off the hands of council staff. While he said the missing Australian flag on what he referred to as a document, “was likely an oversight rather than intentional,” it did however highlight the need for “clear guidelines and boundaries around how council, not individuals, but council as an institution, chooses to represent itself and our community through the display of flags”.
All councillors voted in favour of the motion except Cr Max Patton who said he didn’t have enough time to study the existing flag policy and was “concerned about unintended consequences”. “It also doesn’t make any mention of the Victorian flag, which is acknowledged in Victorian government policy, and is a prominent flag as well,” he said.
Cr Ranken said reviewing the policy ensured there was “no confusion and no repeat of incidents where our national flag is unintentionally omitted from official material”. “Importantly, it is not about excluding other flags. Our current flag policy rightly includes and respects other flags. These flags respect our communities, diversity, identity and pride, and they have a rightful place in our civic places. But even within the inclusive display, there is a recognised order of precedent, and the Australian national flag must sit at the top – not only symbolising, but physically in all forms of representation”.
Ranken said the action meant “council takes ownership and responsibility for the way flags are managed and displayed as representatives of the broader community”. He said the 60-day review would look at “current protocol, identification of any inconsistencies and careful wording to ensure that the policy is clear, respectful and enforceable”.
“This is an opportunity to reaffirm something fundamental – that the Australian national flag unites us all. It represents every citizen, regardless of our heritage or our identity, that stands out for our democratic values, our freedoms and our shared future.”
Cr Pingiario, whose two great-grandfathers served in WWI, said the sacrifice of all Anzacs “should never be forgotten – they fought for what future generations like ours could stand proud and free beneath the flag of our own”. “I respect that many others fly many other different flags and they have every right to do so. But for me the Australian flag must always hold pride of place, because it’s the one thing that brings us all together,” he said.
“I stand for the flag because I believe in the potential of this country, not because it’s perfect but because it’s ours. Every generation, including mine, has a responsibility to help shape a future that is stronger, fairer and more unified”.
First published in the Mornington News – 10 June 2025
