Another two Melbourne councils are reportedly considering taking the controversial step of ‘changing the date’ and banning Australia Day, beginning in 2018.
Yarra City Council and the City of Darebin last week took the step of shaking-up the January 26 national public holiday, a decision which led to widespread backlash.
And now under increasing pressure from Indigenous and left-wing groups, Moreland and Banyule City Councils may follow their lead with one ‘considering’ the possibility and the other saying ‘momentum was building’.
Another two Melbourne (pictured) councils are reportedly considering taking the controversial step of ‘changing the date’ and banning Australia Day, beginning in 2018
Moreland and Banyule City Councils may follow the lead of Darebin and Yarra City Counil’s in holding an Indigenous-themed event instead of an annual citizenship ceremony on the day
Keen to follow the lead of their nearby municipalities, the council is preparing to vote on the issue for a second time in two months.
At the time of the last vote in June, the motion was defeated by a single vote, leaving Cr Samantha Ratnam confident it will be successful this time around.
‘To hear (the Aboriginal community’s) pain and still go ahead with ceremonies on that day is so insensitive,’ she told the Moreland Leader.
‘Even non-Aboriginal communities are asking for change.’
But talking to broadcaster Tom Elliott on 3AW after suggestions they too may move the date, Banyule City Council’s mayor disputed he would lead any push for change.
‘I’m not sure how you got this idea, but Banyule is not considering doing anything about Australia Day,’ Cr Melican said.
‘We’ve certainly looked at the issue, we’ve discussed it among councillors.
‘There is no suggestion, no proposal and no recommendation to do anything about Australia Day at Banyule.’
‘Even non-Aboriginal communities are asking for change,’ Moreland City Councillor Samantha Ratnam said
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
Talking to broadcaster Tom Elliott on 3AW after suggestions they too may move the date, Banyule City Council’s mayor disputed he would lead any push for change
Seemingly left unconvinced Mr Elliott continued to probe Cr Melican, asking why they were at all considering something which ‘was not the preserve of council’.
Claiming they were simply discussing their response in relation to the controversial decisions of other councils, the councillor said he ‘wouldn’t like to lose’ the day.
‘The honour of taking part in any citizenship ceremony is I think the greatest honour that is bestowed on a councillor,’ he said.
‘I think it’s a significant day in Australia’s history, yes, I celebrate it.’
Banyule City Council’s stance comes days after the City of Darebin made a decision with a 6-2 vote in favour of the change.
The planned shake-up will see a shift of date for the Australia Day citizenship awards which will now fall on January 25, ABC News reported.
The Australia Day awards will also be renamed to the Darebin Community Awards.
But the decision, like Yarra’s, has been faced with a wave of residents protesting the move.
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’.
‘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.
But Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told parliament the following day the decision was ‘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.
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.