- A Melbourne council changed their mind after proposing to ban Australia Day
- Banyule Council suggested banning the national day but received backlash
- Taxpayers told the council they should worry about roads, rates and rubbish
- Two other Melbourne councils have decided to ban Australia Day celebrations
Banyule Mayor Tom Melican (pictured) suggest to ban Australia Day but received huge amount of backlash
A Melbourne council tried to ban Australia Day but was forced to reconsider their decision after huge backlash.
Banyule Council gave in to the public’s outrage over the proposition to ban the public holiday shortly after their announcement.
Banyule Mayor Tom Melican proposed he would follow other Melbourne councils who have banned Australia Day but more than 330 social media users slammed the idea, reported Leader Community News.
Watsonia RSL sub-branch president Jeff Mawkes said Cr Melican’s comments caused ‘one hell of a lot of angst’ from taxpayers.
Banyule Councillor Rick Garotti said he had more than 20 phone calls and emails over the weekend asking him why they were changing Australia Day, prompting him to call the urgent motion at Monday night’s meeting, The Age reported.
After several comments on social media slamming the council for suggesting to ban the day where they should instead focus on roads, rates and rubbish, Banyule Council retracted their decision an hour later.
‘Banyule is not considering changing Australia Day,’ the council’s Facebook page posted.
The plan to boycott Australia Day has been followed by Melbourne’s neighbouring Darebin and Yarra City councils earlier this month.
The Melbourne council would have been the third council to ban Australia Day celebrations
The two councils have dumped any Australia Day citizenship ceremonies on January 26, prompting the Federal Government to strip them of their power to hold citizenship ceremonies.
Instead, Yarra City Council will hold an Indigenous-themed event and Darebin Council will hold their own community awards.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten are both against the move to ban Australia Day celebrations on the historical date.
Yarra City Council and Darebin Council have dumped Australia Day celebrations on January 26