In Darebin, the display of the Palestinian flag holds deep significance for many within our community. It stands as a poignant symbol of resisting all forms of injustice, hope, and support for the people of Palestine, and reflects our council's commitment to multiculturalism and inclusion.

The Council is holding a Special General Meeting this Monday 22 December at 9am, in which the Palestinian flag flying above Preston City Hall is to be discussed as the sole item, with the intent to remove it.

The flag must remain for the following reasons:

• Governance rules breach: The Darebin community has not been given the prescribed 7 days’ notice for this meeting (Governance Rule 1.1.2.(3)), nor have ‘urgent or extraordinary circumstances’ been specified that prevented Council from giving the public this prescribed notice (1.1.2.(4)). The intervention of the Local Government monitor in recent times in Darebin only emphasises the need for the utmost probity in such matters; it would be a great shame if the Monitor were required to return again, so soon after delivering its most recent report, as a result of such a flagrant breach of Council’s own rules and the Local Government Act 2020 (Vic).
  No community consultation: To the credit of all involved Councillors, the item regarding the flag scheduled for the December Ordinary Council Meeting was deferred until next year, to enable Councillors to have the opportunity to consult community stakeholders affected by the flag policy. This has not yet occurred, and Council appears to be going back on its word to consult the community first. 
• Appearance of avoiding public scrutiny: An online-only Special Council Meeting (where the Darebin public cannot ask questions, make submissions or even attend in person), called after 5pm on a Friday for 9am the following Monday morning, makes it appear as if Darebin Councillors are attempting to rush through the removal of the Palestinian flag without giving the community either appropriate notice, or any opportunity to engage in discussion of this important issue. In addition to the apparent governance rule breach around notice provision, this is not how governance should be done, or seen to be done.
• Unclear what is meant by ‘Peace flag’: The community cannot understand from the published agenda what is meant by ‘peace flag’ - if Council means by this the rainbow flag (with or without a peace sign), many LGBTQIA+ community members are concerned that this would appear insensitive, and reminiscent of previous Councillors (all of whom were not re-elected or left Council) attempts to remove the Palestinian flag by cynically weaponising LGBTQIA+ and/or First Nations identity, which was strongly condemned by both Midsumma and local Aboriginal advocacy groups.
• Peace and Palestinian flag could both be flown: The massacre in Bondi is a disgrace and a tragedy. Council should do everything within their power to stand against violence, racism and antisemitism. If Councillors and the community consider the flying of a “peace flag” to be appropriate, it could be flown from one of the other flagpoles above Council Offices, such as those located along High Street.
• Palestinian genocide is ongoing: The displacement and killing of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and elsewhere has not ceased. Reports indicate that Israel have continually and systematically violated the ceasefire, and as in previous stages of the genocide, the majority of those killed or injured are women, children, and the elderly. While the genocide continues, it remains vital for those of us committed to human rights, justice, and freedom to show support and solidarity with Palestinians.
• Darebin community supports continuing to fly the Palestinian flag: The events of the past two years have shown that there is strong community support in Darebin for the Palestinian flag to keep flying over Preston City Hall.
  The Australian Palestine Advocacy Network, in their statement on the Bondi attack, write:

Pitting the struggle for Palestinian freedom and human rights and the fight against anti-semitism against one another is disingenuous and harmful. The Darebin community stands against such cynical rhetoric, and sees the governance and probity breaches in this case as evidence suggesting that the peace flag is being proposed in bad faith.

My request is simple: please do anything within your power to prevent the Palestinian flag from being brought down until proper governance process and community consultation can occur.

Please sign this petition to urge Darebin Council to maintain the Palestinian flag's presence as a symbol of our community's values of diversity, inclusion, and solidarity.