For the first time ever both the Australian and Aboriginal flags will be raised together on January 26.
Leading Voice campaigner Megan Davis says changing the date would be a symbolic move that would have little impact on Indigenous Australians’ lives.
Former Liberal MP and Hornsby mayor Philip Ruddock has accused the federal government of “trying to have your cake and eat it too” by allowing councils to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies outside January 26,while also strongly encouraging them to do so.
Yarra and Darebin councils will be allowed to hold citizenship ceremonies for the first time in five years after a major reversal of a Morrison government policy.
The change means citizenship ceremonies can take place from January 23 to 29 but the prime minister says he won’t be moving Australia Day from January 26.
Citizenship ceremonies will no longer be held on January 26 in the inner-north Melbourne council area after a bid by one councillor to overturn an earlier vote was dropped.
A Labor councillor moved to rescind the motion over fears the council could be punished by the federal government,which has mandated that municipalities hold the ceremonies on January 26.
The Greens-led Merri-bek voted to stop holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day and start hosting a “day of mourning” event.
Around 1985,I begged my parents to put an Australian flag on the back bumper of our car. If my kids asked me to do the same today,I would not agree.
Melbourne city councillors are calling on the federal government to change the date of Australia Day and the council is passing up more than $1 million in funding for Australia Day events in the city.
An independent survey of more than 1600 City of Melbourne residents and businesses found nearly 60 per cent want to see the nation celebrate on a different date.