“Can we find ways to create more unity?” Australia Day celebrations under review
The way Australia Day is celebrated could majorly change in the city of Melbourne, as its council begins to assess how to mark the polarising holiday.
Melbourne city council voted in favour of the motion to review how January 26 is celebrated, brought by Lord Mayor Sally Capp, on Tuesday night, as reported by news.com.au.
The council will be looking to identify alternative options for events, communications and community engagement that could be introduced as soon as next year, seeking input from traditional owners, as well as state and federal governments.
Councillor Capp acknowledged that Australia Day is a “polarising issue” and that “views are mixed” on celebrating it on January 26, and that consulting Indigenous people was important since their cultures are “essential” to Melbourne’s identity.
“What are the ways we can celebrate being Australian and can we find ways to create more unity than division on 26 January?” she told Sunrise on Wednesday.
“That is the process we are undertaking with options to come back on September 6.”
She stated that, although local councils “cannot change” the date of Australia Day, she believed that it was important for local governments to be involved.
“I believe it’s important for local governments, as the level of government closest to our people, to be active participants in this important debate,” she said.
“I know that celebrating Australia Day on January 26 is important to a lot of people, as much as it’s hurtful to a lot of people.
“The debate is maturing and it is time for us to be more considered about what happens on January 26.”
“What we can do is consider the views of our community, of traditional owners and the approaches of other levels of government.
“We can incorporate the views of stakeholders and we can look to use that information to consider what we will do on January 26.”
Tuesday night’s motion received strong support from council members, with Jason Cheng being the only member to abstain from voting.
“My thoughts are it’s an issue for the federal government,” Cr Chang said.
“I understand the sentiment and respect my colleagues’ views on this, but I also feel we need to focus on what’s happening in the city of Melbourne right now.
“Businesses are all struggling … myself included.”
Now that the motion has passed, an options paper will be prepared and presented to the council’s Future Melbourne Committee on September 6, which will include details of how Australia Day could be managed from next year onwards.
Image: Getty Images