Talkback radio host Jim Wilson has called out the Central Coast Council for banning the flying of the Australian flag on Australia Day. He said the move was “disgraceful” and claimed that the local government had been “raking up half a billion dollars in debt.”
The council has refuted Wilson’s claims, stating that the ban only applies to the flags on town centre street banners, and a final decision regarding the issue will be made at a council meeting on October 11.
The council noted that the policy only refers to town centre street banners, and the recommendation in the report only pertains to these.
Matt Wales, the president of the Peninsula Chamber, called out Wilson on 2GB radio for his comments about the council’s decision not to fly the Australian flag on its property.
In January, the council was criticized after it was suggested that they wouldn’t fly the flag on Australia Day due to the potential offense it might cause.
Since 2017, the Australian flag has not been flown on the main street of Umina Beach on Australia Day.
Business chambers in the area offered to pay for the flags to be knocked back once more. Instead of the flag, the town’s surf clubs held events in 2022 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Ocean Beach Surf Club.