Mitcham Council backs mayor's push to join ‘change the date of Australia Day’ movement

Mitcham Council has become the first in SA to vote to change the date of Australia Day – and the mayor wants others to join the campaign.

Mitcham Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross said she believed most people now felt Australia Day was “marred by its historical context”. Photo: Alex Aleshin

An Adelaide council has decided that Australia Day should not be held on January 26 and will lobby politicians for the date of the national celebration to be changed.

But, despite Mitcham Council’s new policy, Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross says the council will continue to hold events on that date because “we’re not happy with it, but we still wish to celebrate Australia as a nation”.

The council has voted to “advocate for a change of the date to recognise and celebrate Australia as a nation” after a push from Dr Holmes-Ross to back the “change the date” movement.

It is the first council to officially oppose the date of Australia Day.

It will also take the same proposal to the Australian Local Government Association – the peak council lobby group in the country – and ask them to similarly lobby for Australia Day to be moved from January 26.

The council holds a citizenship ceremony and its Citizen of the Year awards on Australia Day – and intends to continue doing so despite its formal opposition to January 26.

Dr Holmes-Ross said she felt “comfortable with the council holding events on Australia Day, but I don’t feel comfortable with the date of Australia Day”.

“At the moment, it’s out nation’s national day and we’re happy to celebrate our nation,” Dr Holmes-Ross said.

“We would rather do it on a different date.”

She said it was “absolutely” the council’s responsibility to advocate for the date to be changed because “we are the closest level of government to the people, so if there are thoughts within the community … it’s our job to pass them on to different levels of government that might not be as in touch with the general public”.

She said she believed most people felt Australia Day was “marred by its historical context”.

Mitcham Council chambers. Picture: AAP Image/James Elsby

Cr Adriana Christopoulos described the push as a “feel good” proposal that was beyond the council’s remit.

“I think we’ve been focused too long on this outside our jurisdiction,” Ms Christopoulos said.

“I really don’t think Rudd, at the time of the Apology, was waiting for a letter from a council to encourage him.

“I don’t think they’re going to change the date because they’re going to receive a letter from the City of Mitcham.”

She believed it would “force (the council’s) hand” to no longer hold events on Australia Day – and that had been done “without even consulting the community”.

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