One of Western Australia’s largest local governments has reversed its decision to cancel Australia Day celebrations following protests from locals.
Rockingham City Council, in south-west Perth, announced in May last year that all Australia Day celebrations would be held on the Saturday closest to January 26.
But the council has now backtracked following a community survey, the results of which were announced at a meeting on Tuesday evening.
The survey found that 64 per cent of respondents wanted events associated with Australia Day to be held on their actual date of 26 January.
Only two of the 12 councillors voted against reversing the decision, which was proposed by former Rockingham state Liberal candidate Peter Hudson.
Councillor Craig Buchanan of the Legalise Cannabis WA party and former Greens candidate Dawn Jecks were against the move.
Mr Hudson said that of the 7 per cent of indigenous people surveyed, the majority supported celebrating the national holiday on January 26.
He added that the council had an “obligation” to act in the interests of its residents.
Several other councils across Australia have abandoned the national day of celebration (pictured are Australia Day celebrants at Wave Break Island on the Gold Coast)
“But we also have a moral duty as citizens of Australia to act in the national interest of our country,” he said on Tuesday night, The Sound Telegraph reported.
“That means standing up for what we have when we have to: if we don’t stand up for what we believe in, no one else will.”
Rockingham councillor Mark Jones listed “special days” he said Aboriginal people already enjoyed.
‘So there’s the National Apology Anniversary, we have Harmony Week in March, National Forgiveness Day in May, National Reconciliation Week in June, we have Mabo Day in June, National NAIDOC Week in July, National Aboriginal and Torres Children’s Day in August, and National Indigenous Literary Day in September,’ she said.
Rockingham City Council announced in May last year that all Australia Day celebrations would take place on the Saturday closest to 26 January (Rockingham pictured).
“There are a lot of days that we’re trying to balance. I guess I regret that Australia Day isn’t one of those days for everyone, but as a city, we’re trying to celebrate the good things about Australia and bring our country together.”
Several other councils across Australia have dropped the national holiday in recent years following calls from Indigenous groups to change the date.
In late 2022, the Albanese government removed a rule requiring local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.