Australia Day Awards community ceremony replaced on the Sunshine Coast
The scrapping of an Australia Day Awards ceremony on the Sunshine Coast has sparked outrage from MPs in the aftermath of the Woolworths and Aldi Australia Day merch ban.
Sunshine Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sunshine Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A decision to replace the annual Australia Day Awards ceremony on the Sunshine Coast has drawn swift criticism from the region’s MPs.
The Sunshine Coast Council has replaced its Australia Day Awards ceremony with a community awards ceremony dubbed the “Biosphere Community Awards”, which will be held in mid-June.
A council spokesman said the change “provided an opportunity to align with and promote our unique global Biosphere status”.
“Sunshine Coast Council continues to support Australia Day and is a proud host of the Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony, attended by more than 250 recipients and their guests annually,” the spokesman said.
A Noosa Council spokesman said their annual citizenship ceremony will still go ahead on January 26, as planned.
Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien MP was outraged over the Sunshine Coast rebrand and claimed there was no community consultation.
“I stand against any attempt to cancel or silence Australian patriotism,” he said.
“Australia Day is meant to be a day of unity, to celebrate our liberal democracy, our values of freedom and equality, and to give thanks to our ‘way of life’ which is the envy of the world.
“At least citizenship ceremonies are set to proceed here on the Coast.”
Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson said the rebrand was “disappointing”.
“I’m pleased there’s still a citizenship ceremony because it’s just so meaningful, but I think the Australia Day local awards have been something that people have really embraced as a way of acknowledging so many local heroes who are part of the fabric of making Australia great,” she said.
Mr O’Brien and Ms Simpson also took aim at the Woolworths Group’s and Aldi’s decision not to sell any special Australia Day merchandise in 2024 – a move that has drawn a significant reaction and widespread backlash.
Mr O’Brien said he would be handing out his own, free Australia Day merchandise – bumper stickers splashed with the message “Proud of our Country” and “Proud of our Flag” – in response to the supermarket giant’s decisions.
“Australia Day belongs to the people and should never be the plaything of big governments and big corporates,” he said.
“It’s disappointing to see retail giants Woolworths and Aldi strip away Australia Day merchandise.
“With everyday Australians struggling to make ends meet, you’d think they’d be focusing instead on reducing grocery prices.”
Ms Simpson said she “voted with her feet and her credit card” and stocked up on Australia Day merchandise at Coles.
“It’s time to refresh my flags, I wear them out, so no better time to get new merchandise,” she said.
Premier Steven Miles said during a press conference on the Sunshine Coast on Friday it was the supermarket’s decision to pull the merchandise.
“I’ve been much more focused on what they charge for groceries,” he said.
High-end Noosa chef accused of dealing psychedelics, party drugs
A Sunshine Coast man who works at a ritzy Hastings St restaurant has been charged by police, accused of trafficking drugs including LSD and MDMA.
Major blow for controversial Sunshine Coast housing development
A controversial housing development planned for a coastal flood plain has been slammed by planning officers, as the Sunshine Coast Council is set to deliver their decision on the project’s future.