Sunrise host Sam Armytage has gone head-to-head with the mayor of a Melbourne city over the council’s decision to ditch Australia Day celebrations, despite only surveying 81 people out of a 148,000 population.
The City of Darebin council, which governs several of Melbourne’s northern suburbs including Northcote, Preston and Reservoir, came to the controversial decision with a 6-2 vote in favour of the change, following a heated debate among councillors this week.
Armytage confronted Darebin Mayor Kim Le Cerf in a heated interview on Tuesday morning, during which she persistently pressed the community leader on the small survey poll and her claim that if ‘more Australians were educated, they would be ashamed of Australia Day.’
‘Why have you decided not to recognise Australia Day? There are 148,000 people that living in your shire, 81 people was surveyed about Australia day. That’s 81 people of the 140,000 – why have you decided not to recognize Australia Day?’ Armytage began the interview.
Sunrise host Sam Armytage (pictured) has gone head-to-head with the mayor of a Melbourne city over the council’s decision to ditch Australia Day celebrations
Armytage confronted Darebin Mayor Kim Le Cerf (pictured), persistently pressing the community leader on the small survey poll and her claim that if ‘more Australians were educated, they would be ashamed of Australia Day’
Ms Le Cerf responded that ‘there are many issues of social justice that are taken by government,’ but said she doesn’t believe ‘opinion polls should decide what we vote on.’
Armytage continued to push Ms Le Cerf to answer the question, asking how the 81 people surveyed are a true reflection of a community with a much greater population.
‘Aren’t you elected to make a decision on behalf of the people of your shire?’ Armytage said, cutting Ms Le Cerf off mid-sentence.
‘In the best interest of our community yes, and what we are hearing from our Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people is that January 26 marks the beginning of invasion and dispossession,’ Ms Le Cerf said.
After a back and forth debate, Armytage confronted Ms Le Cerf about her comments on uneducated Australians.
‘Correct me if I’m wrong, but you are quoted as saying that if “more Australians were educated, they would be ashamed of Australia Day.” Do you stand by that? Do you stand by that now, on national television?’ the Sunrise host asked.
Ms Le Cerf began to speak when she was cut off by Armytage, who asked her point blank if she stood by her comment.
‘Yes, I do,’ Ms Le Cerf said.
When Armytage (left) asked Ms Le Cerf (pictured) if she would still partake in the public holiday and have a day off of work, the Darebin mayor refused to answer the question
The mayor said she did not celebrate Australia Day and that she reflects on the day with ‘a heavy heart.’
When Armytage asked Ms Le Cerf if she would still partake in the public holiday and have a day off of work, the Darebin mayor refused to answer the question.
‘Kim, with all due respect, it is a yes or no. I will be working on Australia Day, will you?’ a frustrated Armytage pressed.
‘I work every day for our community,’ Ms Le Cerf answered, ending the tense interview.
The Darebin City Council’s decision comes one week after Yarra City Council’s decision to no longer refer to January 26 as Australia Day. Yarra Council was promptly stripped of its citizenship powers by the government.
Another Melbourne council are the latest to ditch its Australia Day celebrations following a heated debate among councillors
The City of Darebin council (pictured), which governs several of Melbourne’s northern suburbs including Northcote, Preston and Reservoir, came to the controversial decision with a 6-2 vote in favour of the change
Darebin’s planned shake-up will see a shift of date for the Australia Day citizenship ceremonies, which will now fall on January 25, ABC News reported.
Ms Le Cerf denied on the claim, but did not elaborate.
The Australia Day awards will be renamed the Darebin Community Awards and an Indigenous-themed event will be held instead of an annual citizenship ceremony on the day.
But the decision, alike Yarra’s, has been faced with a wave of residents protesting the move.
‘Australia Day is January 26 and it should remain that day. They’re doing it without proper consultation and they’re just making decisions for us,’ resident David Schulz said.
Councillor Trent McArthy argued the changes were needed and disagreed suggestions there was not enough discussion on the matter.
Darebin council will follow Yarra’s lead and hold an Indigenous-themed event instead of an annual citizenship ceremony on the day
‘Australia Day is January 26 and it should remain that day. They’re doing it without proper consultation and they’re just making decisions for us,’ Darebin resident David Schulz said.
‘We are at risk of losing our citizenship ceremonies but we need to make this change to respect our Indigenous people,’ he said.
In a statement released onto the council website moments after the Yarra City vote last Tuesday, Yarra City mayor Amanda Stone said the decision was about being ‘culturally sensitive’.
‘The overwhelming sentiment from our Aboriginal community is that January 26 is a date of sadness, trauma and distress,’ Cr Stone said.
But Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told parliament the following day the decision was ‘utterly out of step with Australian values’.
Australia Day is one of the nation’s biggest celebrations and the public holiday is full of colour as millions descend on public events held across the country
But Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told parliament last week such decisions were ‘utterly out of step with Australian values’.
‘Yarra council is using a day that should unite Australians to divide Australians,’ Mr Turnbull said on Wednesday.
Darebin council fast-tracked their vote after declaring a prompt decision was required.
‘[The decision] is in response to an emerging public debate regarding Australia Day and which Darebin councillors have been actively engaged in’, they said in a statement.
The move is now thought to provoke other surrounding councils into similar decisions, with Hepburn Shire Council at Daylesford rumoured to be eager for the switch.
The move is now thought to provoke other surrounding councils into similar decisions, with Hepburn Shire Council at Daylesford rumoured to be eager for the switch.