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| Marion council’s push to scrap Australia Day ceremony unlikely to pass, mayor says | Marion council’s push to scrap Australia Day ceremony unlikely to pass, mayor says |
| (12 days later) | |
| A push for an Adelaide council to follow two inner-city Melbourne councils in scrapping Australia Day celebrations and citizenship ceremony is not supported by the majority of residents and unlikely to pass, the City of Marion mayor, Kris Hanna, has said. | A push for an Adelaide council to follow two inner-city Melbourne councils in scrapping Australia Day celebrations and citizenship ceremony is not supported by the majority of residents and unlikely to pass, the City of Marion mayor, Kris Hanna, has said. |
| On 26 September, Marion council is scheduled to debate the proposed change, which is based on a motion passed by Melbourne’s Darebin council. | On 26 September, Marion council is scheduled to debate the proposed change, which is based on a motion passed by Melbourne’s Darebin council. |
| The most significant of the proposed changes is moving the annual 26 January citizenship ceremony to another, less contentious date. Yarra and the neighbouring Melbourne council of Darebin were stripped of their right to hold any citizenship ceremonies by the federal government after changing their ceremony date, which the government branded “utterly out of step with Australian values”. | The most significant of the proposed changes is moving the annual 26 January citizenship ceremony to another, less contentious date. Yarra and the neighbouring Melbourne council of Darebin were stripped of their right to hold any citizenship ceremonies by the federal government after changing their ceremony date, which the government branded “utterly out of step with Australian values”. |
| Hanna said the council had done “zero” consultation on the issue but his sense from talking to residents was that they would not support it. | Hanna said the council had done “zero” consultation on the issue but his sense from talking to residents was that they would not support it. |
| He did not plan to vote on the motion unless there was call for a casting vote, but said he did not support it and saw it as council overstepping its bounds. | He did not plan to vote on the motion unless there was call for a casting vote, but said he did not support it and saw it as council overstepping its bounds. |
| “I am not against having the debate but it needs to happen at a national level,” Hanna told Guardian Australia. “I actually don’t think it’s helpful for a council to get ahead of the public.” | “I am not against having the debate but it needs to happen at a national level,” Hanna told Guardian Australia. “I actually don’t think it’s helpful for a council to get ahead of the public.” |
| The City of Marion has a population of about 90,000 and is located about 10km from the Adelaide CBD in the coastal south-western suburbs. | The City of Marion has a population of about 90,000 and is located about 10km from the Adelaide CBD in the coastal south-western suburbs. |
| Hanna said the council had a good relationship with the local Kaurna people and was “committed to reconciliation”. | Hanna said the council had a good relationship with the local Kaurna people and was “committed to reconciliation”. |
| Councillor Bruce Hull, who proposed the motion, told the Advertiser that changing the date would recognise the hurt felt by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at celebrating the day Australia was formally colonised. | Councillor Bruce Hull, who proposed the motion, told the Advertiser that changing the date would recognise the hurt felt by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at celebrating the day Australia was formally colonised. |
| Hanna said local government should focus on local issues. | Hanna said local government should focus on local issues. |
| “I have been encouraging our councillors just to focus on local issues, on making the quality of life better for our residents, and not getting into ideological debates,” he said. “My sense is that if you want to get involved in those ideological issues – and there are a lot of worthy ones – you should get into state or federal parliament.” | “I have been encouraging our councillors just to focus on local issues, on making the quality of life better for our residents, and not getting into ideological debates,” he said. “My sense is that if you want to get involved in those ideological issues – and there are a lot of worthy ones – you should get into state or federal parliament.” |
| The Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce, agreed, telling reporters in Adelaide on Monday that councils should stick to “rubbish and roads”. | The Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce, agreed, telling reporters in Adelaide on Monday that councils should stick to “rubbish and roads”. |
| “Every time a council decides their job is not to look after rubbish and roads but some social engineering for our nation, it is just garbage,” he said. | “Every time a council decides their job is not to look after rubbish and roads but some social engineering for our nation, it is just garbage,” he said. |
| Melbourne’s Yarra council voted unanimously on 15 August in support of not holding a citizenship ceremony on 26 January, referring to Australia Day as “January 26” in all official council documents, and replacing the traditional celebrations with a culturally appropriate event focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and perspectives. It was stripped of its right to hold any future citizenship ceremonies the next day. | Melbourne’s Yarra council voted unanimously on 15 August in support of not holding a citizenship ceremony on 26 January, referring to Australia Day as “January 26” in all official council documents, and replacing the traditional celebrations with a culturally appropriate event focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and perspectives. It was stripped of its right to hold any future citizenship ceremonies the next day. |
| Darebin council followed a week later and was similarly stripped. | Darebin council followed a week later and was similarly stripped. |
| The assistant immigration minister, Alex Hawke, has warned that any council that refuses to hold a citizenship ceremony on 26 January, the most popular day of the year for migrants to become Australian citizens, would be considered in breach of the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code and have its power to hold ceremonies revoked. | The assistant immigration minister, Alex Hawke, has warned that any council that refuses to hold a citizenship ceremony on 26 January, the most popular day of the year for migrants to become Australian citizens, would be considered in breach of the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code and have its power to hold ceremonies revoked. |
| Nine months ago Western Australia’s Fremantle council announced plans to shift its citizenship ceremony to 28 January, only to move it back following government pressure. Fremantle did, however, scrap its Australia Day celebrations in favour of the One Day celebrations on 28 January this year. | Nine months ago Western Australia’s Fremantle council announced plans to shift its citizenship ceremony to 28 January, only to move it back following government pressure. Fremantle did, however, scrap its Australia Day celebrations in favour of the One Day celebrations on 28 January this year. |