Shire revives Australia Day debate, backs advocacy for new date

THE Surf Coast Shire will begin advocating to the federal government for Australia Day to be moved to the last weekend in January, but will not return to formally recognising January 26 as the country’s national day.

On Tuesday, at its scheduled meeting, the council received an officer’s report about the impacts of celebrating Australia Day on January 26, revisiting a debate first sparked in February about whether the shire should revert to acknowledging the date.

Cr Adrian Schonfelder quickly raised a motion, successfully carried 5-4, encouraging the council to continue its advocacy to the federal government, but to also offer the last weekend in January as the new date for Australia Day to provide the community more “certainty” about the event’s future.

“I want to celebrate Australia Day, I want to celebrate the ancient history we have, and I feel that this is a compromise,” he said.

“Just changing the date and not having any certainty about what it is, [makes you wonder] what are you going to have? It’s like saying we change the system of government.”

 

 

Crs Libby Stapleton and Liz Pattison were among those to vote against the amendment, suggesting it was inappropriate for the council to make a proposal about what the “right date” for Australia Day should be.

Both, however, supported continual advocacy to the federal government for the date to be changed — a position supported, six votes to three, during the debate.

“I want the Surf Coast to be on the right side of history, moving forward in reconciliation,” Cr Pattison said.

“What legacy do we want to leave behind? To continue the cycle of mistrust that comes from celebrating on the 26th of January, or a council that continues to be at the forefront in building trust with First Nations people through this ongoing commitment to reconciliation?

“Anybody can celebrate the 26th of January if they choose. We’re talking about council endorsed events. But January 26th can be celebrated without council involvement and without causing harm to our First Nations community.”

The Surf Coast Shire has not acknowledged Australia Day since 2021, and for the past three years, has instead held Pilk Purriyn, a truth-telling event, on January 26.

Cr Tony Phelps said true equality would allow for both “commemoration and commiseration” on January 26, but argued the council should “retain the status quo for the time being”.

 

 

“These are not ordinary times, and I feel now is not the time to change. Our First Nations people, along with other groups, are under pressure, and I feel it’s important the Surf Coast Shire council is seen to provide clear support by standing strongly with them,” he said.

“Changing [our position] now will be over-interpreted by both sides of this issue with consequent negative outcomes.”

Cr Rebecca Burke, whose motion in February to designate Australia Day as a “tier 1 event” was responsible for reigniting debate on the issue, said her intention was to bring the community together.

“In lieu of having an alternative day, it does leave a lot of Australians wanting to celebrate wholeheartedly and acknowledge our Aboriginal friends and family members in their mourning as well,” she said.

“One hurt or one concern — without drawing us together on potential future reconciliations — has massive potential to cause more divide.”

Following a resolution in February, the shire wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to urge the government to change the date of Australia Day.

In its response, received by the council in July, the government restated its position that Australia Day should remain on January 26.