Updated 19th February 2021, 4:00PM AEDT

What do we want?

A free flag!

When do we want it?

NOW!

Since the Senate Enquiry in to the Aboriginal Flag released its findings on the 13th of October, there has been no visible movement or public statement on the actions to Free the Flag from Minister Ken Wyatt's office.

It's time to #FreeTheFlag, it's time for #FlagRightsNow.

In the 50th anniversary year of the Aboriginal Flag we are asking that the flag be free to celebrate! Our eyes are set on the 12th of July, the day the Aboriginal flag was first flown publicly in Adelaide at Victoria Square on National Aborigines Day back in 1971.

The #FreeTheFlag campaign gained huge momentum in 2020 and lead to a Senate Inquiry following the mass support and public awareness during AFL's Sir Doug Nicholls Round. 

The Senate Inquiry recommended that the Flag be free from the licensing agreements it is current shackled by.

It's time to make that happen. It's time for #FlagRightsNow

We cannot wait to see the Aboriginal Flag back in action and displayed proudly once again! 

Let's make it happen so we can celebrate the Flag's 50th Birthday in style! 

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ORIGINAL PETITION STATEMENT:

We've got something to flag with you. We're usually full of spark, but today we're full of passion. 

We have been served a "Cease and Desist" from WAM Clothing for celebrating the Aboriginal Flag on our "Clothing the Gap" products. 

Did you know that the Aboriginal Flag is copyrighted?

Currently, WAM Clothing hold an exclusive world-wide licensing agreement with the Flag's copyright owner, Harold Thomas, to reproduce the Flag on clothing.

We wrote to Harold Thomas in August of 2018 to ask for permission to enter a licensing agreement to use the flag on clothing, however we received no reply.

This is not a question of who owns copyright of the Flag. This is a question of control. 

Should WAM Clothing, a non-indigenous business, hold the monopoly in a market to profit off Aboriginal peoples' Identity and love for "their" flag? 

We believe that this control of the market by a non-indigenous business has to stop. 

Viable channels for new licensing agreements, especially those for Aboriginal organisations and businesses, must be created. 

Unite with us to see the Aboriginal Flag celebrated, shared and worn for #PrideNotProfit as we lobby government and relevant bodies for action.

For more information please contact: hello@clothingthegap.com.au