Wollongong City Council has opted not to fly the Palestinian flag, unless asked by the community. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, Wollongong City Council proudly flew the Ukrainian flag in solidarity.
After the Beirut blast, the Lebanese flag was flown by the same council to show support.
However, a motion to fly the Palestinian flag following the announcement by the Albanese Government that Australia will recognise Palestinian statehood, was voted down at Monday night’s meeting.
Councillor Kit Docker put forward the motion, seconded by his fellow Greens Councillor Jess Whittaker.
Cr Docker urged the council to acknowledge the immense loss of civilian life in Gaza since October 2023, support the Australian Government’s recognition of Palestine as a state and reaffirm Wollongong’s commitment to peace and human rights by flying the Palestinian flag within the next two months.
“If there is a hell on earth it is the life of children in Gaza,” he said.
“The UN says Gaza is home to the largest group of child amputees in modern history. We now know starvation is being used as a weapon of war. Dozens of children in northern Gaza have died of malnutrition or dehydration.
“Our city has a long and proud history of standing up for human rights and international law wherever they are in dispute.
“In recent years we have stood with the people of Lebanon and Ukraine and thousands in Wollongong have marched in support of the people of Palestine.
“This council flew the Ukrainain flag in solidarity with people facing an illegal and brutal occupation.
“Now it’s time for us to take a similar stand.”
Sally Stevenson, who spent a month in Gaza as a volunteer aid worker with Medecins Sans Frontiers, addressed councillors, telling them the situation on the ground was worse than it was possible to imagine.
She told councillors about her experience and urged them to show their support to the Palestinian people.
“Before I went I had witnessed via my phone the bombing, the destruction, the indiscriminate killing of civilians, women and children, the targeted killing of journalists and aid workers,” she said.
“None of this prepared me for my time there. It is the worst context I had ever experienced with MSF.
“It was worse than you could imagine.
“The Israeli government has said they will wipe Palestinians out and we have no reason to disbelieve them.
“The evidence of genocide is irrefutable, the impact undeniable, the time for action is now. I ask you to pass this motion.”
Labor Councillor Dan Hayes, however, said the situation in Gaza was too complex for the council to weigh in on.
“The speaker spoke in absolutes, which I am always cautious of,” he said.
“The motion seems straightforward if you choose to ignore multiple things can be true at once.
“What is happening to the Palestinian people is despicable, but the Australian Government has listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation since 2001 – does the flag represent a government, a country or a people? The motion does not address this.
“Members of our Jewish community are concerned about rising antisemitism in Australia and speak out against what is happening in Palestine.
“What does this motion say to those members of the community?”
Cr Hayes suggested a motion that would ask the Palestinian community in Wollongong to apply to have their flag flown.
Cr Whittaker said the motion did not ask for more than the council had provided for other causes.
“I don’t think we should put it on Palestinian people to have to apply, that’s why we brought it to council to show that solidarity people are crying out for,” she said.
Labor Councillor David Brown said he stood by a motion the council had passed on the conflict in 2023 and he did not see a need to take further action.
Cr Docker replied the situation in Gaza had “deteriorated beyond belief” since that motion was passed.
“Councillors have failed to articulate why the Palestinian community deserves a different standard,” he said.
“Surely whatever threshold we needed to pass to get involved as we did in regards to Ukraine and Lebanon has been surpassed in Gaza.”
The vote was split, with councillors Andrew Anthony, Ann Martin, Jess Whittaker, Kit Docker, Dierdre Stuart and Tiana Myers in favour, and councillors Dan Hayes, Richard Martin, Thomas Quinn, Linda Campbell, David Brown and Lord Mayor Tania Brown against.
The Lord Mayor’s vote decided the outcome and the motion was defeated.
Cr Hayes foreshadowed a motion that the council fly the United Nations flag on the community flagpole on the UN International Day of Peace and encourage representatives of the Illawarra’s Palestinian community to apply to fly their flag on or after the date the Australian Government recommends the nation of Palestine at the UN.
His motion was supported by all councillors except councillors Whittaker and Docker, while Cr Stuart abstained from voting.
