Inner-west councils are unlikely to follow the lead of their counterparts in Melbourne’s north in dumping references to January 26 as Australia Day.
Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson said the council had not considered joining Yarra and Darebin councils in making any changes to the date.
“There has been no consideration to date by council of any change to the long standing practice of conducting citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, or with regard to the formal recognition of Australia Day on January 26,” she said.
Cr Tony Briffa acknowledged there were issues with the date of Australia Day, but did not support any changes to the way the day was currently celebrated in Hobsons Bay.
“I think it would be appropriate for Hobsons Bay to celebrate our indigenous community and our country’s indigenous heritage on a separate day such as Sorry Day (May 26) or the anniversary of the apology by the Australian Government to the Stolen Generations (February 13),” Cr Briffa said.
Maribyrnong mayor Catherine Cumming said any consideration of changes would first require extensive community consultation.
“As a new council we have talked about it, but if we were to go down the path of starting the conversation we would firstly have a conversation with the broader community about it,” she said.
“We know we are not in a position to change a national holiday.”
Cr Cumming said a starting point would be discussing the question with the council’s Reconciliation Action Plan Advisory Committee.
Yarra mayor Amanda Stone stood by her Council’s decision and applauded Darebin for “making a stand for positive change,” despite both councils being stripped of their ability to hold citizenship ceremonies.
“This is a local issue as much as it is a national one. It is about caring for the health and wellbeing of our Aboriginal communities, listening to their voices and acknowledging their experiences.”
