“Advocating for a change of date won’t resolve the devastating and far-reaching impacts of colonisation,but it does provide a platform for an ongoing and honest conversation.”

A City of Sydney spokesperson said the council did not run any events on January 26,but would continue to provide support to the Department of Premier and Cabinet for its public events.

Both Sydney and Inner West councils are major sponsors of the Yabun Festival at Victoria Park. The Indigenous festival is usually attended by significant numbers from Sydney’s Invasion Day rally,which departs Belmore Park at 9.30am.

“We are also holding an end-of-summer festival in Enmore Park,which has been moved from January 26 to February so as not to compete with Yabun,” Byrne said.

Australia Day will also be ignored by the Liberal Party-dominated Woollahra Municipal Council in Sydney’s eastern suburbs,which will not hold any events on January 26 apart from a citizenship ceremony for new citizens and their families.

“Historically,Council does not hold public events on Australia Day other than a citizenship ceremony,therefore 2023 is no different to previous years for Woollahra Council,” a spokeswoman said.

In contrast,neighbouring Waverley Council will hold a Dawn Reflection ceremony at 5.30am on Bondi Beach in acknowledgement of the resilience and survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,as well as three citizenship ceremonies at Bondi Pavilion. Randwick also will hold a citizenship ceremony,followed by a concert featuring Aboriginal musicians at La Perouse.

Speaking about the change to the rules for citizenship ceremonies last month,Prime Minister Anthony Albanesesaid Labor supported ceremonies being held on Australia Day but did not want new citizens to miss out.

“We want people to become Australian citizens. And that is why we should not place red tape for ideological reasons in front of that opportunity,” he said.

But while inner Sydney councils grapple with how to approach the increasingly controversial holiday,elsewhere in the city the celebrations are bigger than ever.

Pop star Vanessa Amorosi will headline Blacktown City Council’s Australia Day Concert,which boasts fireworks,amusement rides and a freestyle motocross show. Kate Ceberano will play a concert hosted by the Hills Shire,where there will also be three separate Australian flag-raising ceremonies.

“Australia Day is our national day and the time to celebrate everything that is wonderful about this country and our way of life,” Hills Shire Mayor Peter Gangemi said.

Northern Beaches Council will host an Australia Day Eve Open Air Cinema at Mona Vale on January 25 and Australia Day pool parties at Manly and Warringah aquatic centres. Canterbury-Bankstown and Penrith councils will also hold events across several public pools.

But it is possible the short time frame given for councils to change the dates of their events could mean more join the City of Sydney next year.

A spokesperson for Parramatta City Council said its events,which include a multicultural festival,just one week after its Lunar New Year celebrations,were planned “several months” in advance.

“Any changes to the City of Parramatta’s Australia Day program will need to be a decision of Council and endorsed prior to the 2024 event,” the spokesperson said.

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