Geelong council candidates split on whether Australia Day should be moved

Australia Day has become a hot-button issue in council chambers across the country, so the Addy asked local candidates whether January 26 should remain our national day.

The City of Greater Geelong no longer holds citizenship ceremonies on January 26, nor does any other council in the region. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Geelong council candidates are split on whether Australia Day should remain on January 26, with opinions largely reflecting political allegiances.

While moving the date is ultimately a decision for the federal government, Australia Day has in recent years become a hot-button issue in council chambers across the country.

Geelong council last year voted to cease reference to Australia Day, opting instead to call it “January 26”, while the Surf Coast Shire flies the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags at half-mast.

Both councils no longer hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26.

As part of the Addy’s council election coverage, all candidates were asked whether January 26 should remain our national day.

“It causes distress to First Nations communities,” the Greens’ Emilie Flynn said.

“We should work together to find an alternative date.”

Ms Flynn, who is contesting Kardinia, is one of seven Greens members seeking a seat at City Hall.

Unsurprisingly, all support changing the date.

“Australia Day means many things to different people,” Cheetham ward candidate Jess Harper said.

“It causes distress to First Nations communities and we should work together to find an alternative date.”

Candice Costoso.

Independent Kardinia candidate Candice Costoso was emphatic in her opposition of January 26.

“The date represents invasion,” she said.

“I do believe a public holiday alternative could be created to celebrate our country.”

Barrabool Hills candidate and Labor member David McGinness said the topic was a “national issue that must be resolved via truth-telling”.

Fellow Labor member and Charlemont candidate Teagan Mitchell said a less divisive date must be found.

“For Indigenous people, Australia Day holds immense trauma; others it’s celebratory,” she said.

The Kontelj brothers – Eddy and Stretch – played a straight bat, saying it was a matter for the federal government, as did mayor Trent Sullivan and deputy mayor Anthony Aitken.

Barrabool Hills candidate and former South Barwon Liberal MP Andrew Katos called on citizenship ceremonies to return to January 26.

Fellow Liberal candidate Peter William Desbrowe-Annear, who is standing in Kardinia, supported the status quo.

”I am Australian and I use this day to celebrate all the achievements that Australia and its citizens past and present have done for Australia and the world,” he said.

Mathew Hood, an independent Hamyln Heights candidate, said something similar.

“January 26 celebrates our nation’s shared history and national identity,” he said.

“We should be celebrating our great country and community at any opportunity.”

You Yangs candidate Nicole Lynch said while January 26 was a date of sadness for many, it also served as a reminder to learn from history.

“We can’t change history, but we can learn to not repeat it and move forward,” she said.

All candidate responses can be viewed here.

Originally published as Geelong council candidates split on whether Australia Day should be moved