Copyright holds flag hostage

PRESSURE is mounting on the Morrison government to resolve a long-running dispute over the copyright of the Aboriginal flag.

Labor is calling on Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt to come clean on the sticking points after more than a year of secret talks between the government, artist Harold Thomas and the licence-holders.

“There can’t be an endless negotiation,” opposition spokeswoman Linda Burney said. “We have been incredibly patient.”

Ms Burney said Australians were “really angry” that no one could use the image of the Aboriginal flag because Mr Thomas gave WAM Clothing the exclusive rights over it.

“The flag cannot be held hostage for profit,” she said.

“There needs to be a few ultimatums put, particularly … this is the amount we are prepared to offer.”

The Aboriginal flag came under the microscope of a senate committee last year, which recommended against the government wielding its constitutional power to compulsorily acquire the copyright to protect the rights of Mr Thomas. Instead, it proposed that an independent body be established to have custodial oversight of the Aboriginal flag.

“A balance must be struck between the legal rights and the value of the Aboriginal flag,” the committee said.