Melbourne council replaces Australia Day ceremony

Yarra Council, in Melbourne's inner north, will replace its Australia Day citizenship ceremony with an event "marking the loss of Indigenous culture", after a controversial motion was unanimously passed in a dramatic town hall meeting.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has criticised the council's decision to drop all references to Australia Day and cancel its annual citizenship ceremony, accusing it of repudiating Australian values and dividing the community.

The changes were brought before the council after months of consultation with the local Indigenous community.

"An attack on Australia Day is a repudiation of the values the day celebrates: freedom, a fair go, mateship and diversity," Mr Turnbull said in a statement.

Socialist councillor Stephen Jolly shared similar sentiments, saying it was important to "start listening to Indigenous Australians who see it very differently".

What do you think? Should we change the date of Australia Day? Should councils be free to decide on these issues for themselves?

Read more at abc.net.au

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17 comments

They should thank their lucky stars that it ws the British and not the Portugese of the Spanish that got here first - because if they had of, then there would have been none of them left.  Invasion Day pfff, take a look at what happened in Africa and South America during that period of European colonisation of the globe.  Invasion day.... Saved theem day I'd call it.  That all asisde, as the song by "The Seekers" said, I am, you are, we are Australian!

Stupid council.

Despite being a direct descendant of a first-fleeter, I think the Yarra Council's stand is commendable. Firstly, the British had no legal right to this country in 1788, as was belatedly shown in the Mabo case. The settlement was part of a vicious legal and penal system designed to perpetuate a totally undemocratic class system in the UK. My ancestor was sent to the other side of the world for seven years for minor theft. I have no doubt he would have preferred to be back in England than at Sydney Cove when Phillip ran up the flag. Certainly the local indigenous people would have wished the invaders gone. Why celebrate this particular day? There are lots of alternatives that could gather all Australians together. The chest-beating right wing pollies wrapping themselves in the flag and suggesting that a different day would abandon "Australian values" remind one of the old saying about patriotism being the last refuge of scoundrels. 

It's very sad that ignorance and prejudice dominates the comments - well said Bellbird (and Thea) - this is not about Greens or other political entities nor is it about British colonialism - it is about our first people and one of the oldest if not the oldest civilisation on earth. We should have a day all can celebrate not just white or migrant Australia unfortunately that may never happen until Australia grows up and becomes a republic.

If the indigenous community is so unhappy with vast improvements the 'invaders' have since made to this country let them hand back the $30 BILLION dollars of our taxes paid to them each year for doing absolutely nothing.

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