The Commonwealth bought the Aboriginal flag. Has it been ‘freed’ or colonised? By Dana Morse Source:abc.net.au     In the words of the Prime Minister, the Aboriginal flag is now free to be used by all Australians. More than 50 years after the flag was designed, the federal government has acquired the copyright in a $20 million deal with Luritja artist Harold Thomas.   But is that what Aboriginal people really want — for all Australians to have equal access to what has long been recognised as a symbol of Aboriginal power and resistance? It has been celebrated as a win after a hard-fought campaign dubbed “Free the Flag”, spearheaded by Clothing the Gaps chief executive Laura Thompson. The campaign called for the Aboriginal flag to be treated like every other officially recognised flag in the world, freeing it from licensing agreements and allowing Aboriginal people to have equal rights and access. But ...

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