With the debate (read: one side saying “this is bad” and the other plugging their ears) surrounding Australia Day arguably at greater heights than it ever has been in Australian public discourse, one inner-Melbourne council will tonight vote on a raft of proposed changes that, if passed, will see the Australia Day name removed from all January 26th activities.
The Yarra Council, which covers progressive inner-city suburbs of Richmond, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Carlton North, Abbotsford and others, will tonight hold a vote on a proposed local name change for the day, as well as the proposed changing of a local citizenship ceremony to a respectful Indigenous smoking ceremony.
The sweeping changes to official council activities on the day will be made with a view to “[acknowledging] the loss of culture, language and identity felt by the Aboriginal community on January 26.”
Yarra Council Mayor Amanda Stone stated that the proposed changes were crafted in consultation with several leaders of the local Indigenous community, with the changes first raised this past January.
We’ve had discussions with the Indigenous community about the sense of loss and anger and sadness about not just the history, about what January 26 means to them. Our officers have since been engaging with the Indigenous community and non-Indigenous people with random, on-the-spot surveys.
That was something that came through from the Aboriginal community really strongly. That associating January 26, which is a day that represents dispossession for them, with a day of national celebration is incongruous. So their strong desire is to engage in education rather than big bold steps.
The council’s proposed changes would see a small-scale smoking ceremony held on January 26th in place of the usual citizenship ceremonies, the adoption of a broader plan that focused on education that would assist a better community understanding of the Aboriginal community’s relationship with that date, the local removal of the term “Australia Day” with the date simply referred to as January 26th until a new title is adopted nationally, and an official push to lobby the Federal Government to adopt similar changes.
The proposed changes would not discourage or prevent people living in the council area from engaging in public holiday revelry like barbeques or drinking; the council’s Edinburgh Gardens is home to large scale celebration on the date. Rather, it’s an Indigenous community-driven push to slowly change people’s mindset surrounding the date, with a view to get people to observe the day in a respectful manner.
I can’t see that gathering will change in the short-term, but perhaps people will have more of a think about what Australia Day is and means on January 26. We don’t have the authority to change the name. We don’t have the authority to change the date. That’s a big process. But we cannot refer to that date as Australia Day, which is a day that is associated with great loss and sadness in the community.
Cr Stone mentioned that neighbouring councils Moreland and Darebin were considering adopting similar proposals.
The Federal Government has warned any council shifting away from “standard” Australia Day ceremonies will be “punished.”
The vote is set to be held tonight during a meeting of the Yarra Council at Richmond Town Hall after 7:00pm. It is open to the public.
