Tweed Shire Council to ask the Federal Government to change the date of Australia Day

A shire council in New South Wales is one again fuelling the fire in the debate to change the date of Australia Day.

The Tweed Shire Council have voted in favour to ask the Federal Government to change the date of Australia Day. Picture: Dominic Elsome

The Tweed Shire Council is taking on the Federal Government in a David and Goliath battle in asking them to change the date of Australia Day.

The notice of motion was brought to the council by Mayor Chris Cherry at last week’s meeting.

He said the theme of Reconciliation Week – more than just a word – was the time to bring up the topic again.

“I’m always asked by people to not take away from the celebration for those people getting those awards on that day and have the conversation at a different time,” Ms Cherry said.

“I felt like this was the time we need to talk about this.”

Tweed mayor Chris Cherry during the Tweed Shire Council's Australia Day ceremony at Twin Towns Services Club in Tweed Heads on January 26, 2021. Picture: Liana Boss

According to a survey by Ipsos 28 per cent of people support changing the date, while 49 per cent believed the date would change within the next 10 years.

“Every time we start a meeting we say recognise the owner’s of these lands,” Ms Cherry said.

“We say I’d like to pay respects to elders past and present – I don’t think celebrating Australia Day pays my respects or any respects.

“It’s time we have this conversation.”

She said the purpose of the motion was not to locally change the date but to convince the Federal Government to change the date.

However, councillor Warren Polglase questioned how much research had been done within the Tweed Shire.

“How much conversation have you had with the broader community,” Mr Polglase said.

“Some time ago this was considered – the Aboriginal community were against it.

“They supported 26th in Tweed Shire.”

He said he was concerned this letter would see the Federal Government take away the council’s citizenship ceremony.

Councillors Pryce Allsop, James Owen, Reece Byrnes and Warren Polglase at Tweed Shire Council's Australia Day ceremony at Twin Towns Services Club on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. Picture: Liana Boss

“I think you’re taking a position you think this is what the broader community wants,” he said.

“I think community happy with the away things are today.”

Councillor Ron Cooper suggested January 26 could be split between learning about the impacts of white settlement and letting people get awards.

“I would think for them to have the opportunity once a year to talk about those impacts and gradually let the community understand the implications of colonisation and how its effected them,” Mr Cooper said.

“We’re looking at high crime rates … and blaming them because they’re black

“We should be blaming us because we disrupted something that had been working for 40,000 years.”

Deputy mayor Reece Byrnes said the nation was still far from true reconciliation.

“People are afraid to do what is right at the wrong time,” Mr Byrnes said.

“I’m going to give my support for this I think its important to the people it does effect and does call cause pain for – if we cause pain we’re probably not doing the right thing.”

The Tweed Shire welcomed 33 new Australian citizens in a ceremony at Twin Towns Services Club in Tweed Heads on Australia Day, January 26, 2021. Picture: Liana Boss

Councillor Katie Milne suggested May 8 was a good alternative day.

“We are mates we could just do that,” Ms Milne said.

“That would be a great and fun and truly Aussie thing to do.

“We’ve got options we don’t have to continue causing pain and hurt.”

Councillor Pryce Allsop said he couldn’t stand behind the motion speculating on what the community wanted.

“I wouldn’t mind if we had a referendum as opposed to council making up its mind,” Mr Allsop said.

“Until we know what those answers are I don’t want to assume our community are in support of this.”

Mayor Chris Cherry, Deputy Mayor Reece Byrnes and Councillors Katie Milne and Ron Cooper voted in favour of writing to the Federal Government asking them to change the date while councillors Pryce Allsop, James Owen and Warren Polglase voted against the motion.