Melbourne council to pick sides on Australia Day debate after years of rejecting official celebrations

A Melbourne council will be forced to choose sides on the Australia Day debate three years after vowing it would no longer recognise the public holiday.

The City of Melbourne officially stopped traditional recognition of January 26 in 2022 and instead supported calls for a national date change.

This resolution could be sensationally reversed after councillor Philip Le Liu moved a motion to recognise the date as Australia’s “national day”, in-line with the state and federal governments.

Liu wants to reinstate Australia Day in the City of Melbourne with the aim of fostering “community participation, civic pride and social cohesion”, as per his notice of motion.

Liu said his motion respects the views held in the community regarding January 26 and the significance the date holds for many First Nations people, but acknowledges that “any decision to change the date is a matter for the Australian government and outside the jurisdiction of local government”.

If the motion is successful, the council will find room in the budget for activities, promotions and community celebrations of Australia Day 2027.

An updated position on Australia Day could also see the return of a parade to mark the public holiday.

The motion will be put to a vote at the next council meeting on September 29.

The City of Melbourne said it does not have an official position on the motion brought forward by Liu.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece was deputy mayor when the council voted on its position on Australia Day under then-lord mayor Sally Capp.

In 2022, the council said it would instead advocate for Australia Day to be moved from January 26 after a survey of 1600 residents found 60 per cent of people supported a date change.

“As a city for all people, we believe Australia Day should be held on a date that can be equally celebrated by everyone,” the council said in a notice on its website.

“We acknowledge a growing number of people have come to understand the complex relationship many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have with 26 January – the anniversary of British colonists raisin​g the Union Flag at Sydney Cove.

“It’s why council voted to advocate to the federal government to change the date of Australia Day.”

Citizenship ceremonies have still taken place on January 26 in the council area.

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In the past, the council has hosted Indigenous performances in lieu of Australia Day festivities on January 26.

Multiple councils across Victoria have previously backflipped on the decision not to recognise January 26 as Australia Day.

The federal government has previously rejected calls to move Australia Day, including Geelong City Council and Strathbogie Shire Council.

On January 26 this year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for unity and said the day should be about celebrating why Australia is the “best country on earth”.