The City of Greater Geelong has been accused of cancelling Australia Day after voting to drop the day’s official name and refer to it by its date alone.The controversial annual public holiday will now be referred to only as January 26, following the passing of a formal motion at the council’s Tuesday night meeting.
The news infuriated Liberal Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur, who told Geelong Broadcasters that councils should not be involved in national debates.
“I think it’s a very sad day when local government gets involved in this sort of stuff,” Ms McArthur said.
“I understand they’re in serious debt at Geelong City Council, maybe they should focus on how they cut their expenditure instead of getting engaged in these sort of activities.”
She said Australia Day was a date on which the nation should be celebrated.
“I’m appalled at the City of Greater Geelong’s decision,” Ms McArthur declared.
“It’s pathetic. We’re so flat out cancelling history, cancelling everything that has made Australia great, I don’t understand this sort of mentality.”
The meeting also ratified a proposal to cease holding citizenship ceremonies on January 26.
Mayor Trent Sullivan, a Liberal Party member, told his fellow Councillors the changes would make a positive difference.
“As mayor and as leader of the council, my opinion is this: what will make us better as a society? What will bring us closer together and help us work together, to make it better for everybody around us?” he asked.
“I believe the recommendations … lead us in that direction”
January 26th, which has long been viewed by First Nations peoples as a day of mourning, marks the anniversary of the day Captain Arthur Phillip claimed Australia as a British colony in 1788. Prior to that ‘Australia Day’ was observed on different dates in each state and territory.
Image: member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur (supplied)