Council votes to reinstate Australia Day celebrations

THE City of Greater Geelong will return to celebrating Australia Day on January 26 and stop all advocacy to the federal government that the date be changed, after an emotionally charged council meeting last week.

Both protesters and supporters joined the council at City Hall on Tuesday last week for the council’s first meeting of 2025, as it again considered Cr Eddy Kontelj’s calls for its May 2023 decision to cease recognising the date be overturned.

But tensions quickly boiled over in the gallery, and mayor Stretch Kontelj opted to clear all attendees from the hall, citing “occupational health and safety concerns”.

When the meeting resumed, the council ultimately voted 7-4 in favour of the motion, with councillors Emma Sinclair, Elise Wilkinson, Melissa Cadwell and Anthony Aitken voting against.

Cr Eddy Kontelj said the city would again be represented by a council that “proudly celebrates Australia Day as proclaimed by the federal government”.

“I want everything that we do in the future, when it comes to acknowledging and celebrating Australia Day, to be focused on all that is good and great about Australia and Geelong, and to acknowledge and celebrate our rich and valuable diversity, including that of our First Nations people.”

Cr Trent Sullivan said it was not the remit of local government to lead the debate.

“I believe we still are able to engage in all the truth telling ceremonies, flag raising ceremonies.

“We can have a complete and harmonious day, while recognising the history, but celebrating what we have today as one of the most prosperous and successful multicultural nations on Earth.”

But Cr Aitken criticised the move, and raised concerns about the harm the decision would cause local mob and the broader community.

“Our community is divided, and our community is in conflict,” Cr Aitken said.

“We certainly, as councillors, should not be participating in any processes, actions, behaviours or words which are creating division within our community.

“It is clear to me that the date is too significant for people to continue on the 26th of January, and as a consequence, we should be working with our community to actually see how we can bring unity and peace back to our community.”

Ahead of the meeting, a newly-formed coalition of First Nations organisations, including the Wathaurong Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, released a statement criticising the council’s actions.

The group, named First Peoples United Together Djilang said, at its inaugural meeting last month, it had passed a motion of no confidence in the City of Greater Geelong council and that it would continue to advocate for the date of Australia Day to be changed.

“Changing the date is a powerful step towards understanding, healing and respect, so we can all celebrate this great country, together,” the group said.