Adelaide Hills Council abandons official Australia Day events

The number of SA councils to dump their official January 26 events has grown as the Adelaide Hills reveals why it won’t be taking part again.

Multiple South Australian councils are abandoning official Australia Day celebrations - including citizenship ceremonies - out of respect for the “culture and values” of First Nations people.

The Adelaide Hills Council is the latest to not support “any events” held on January 26 and will move award presentations and citizenship ceremonies from the date.

It joins the City of Unley and City of Mitcham in choosing not to officially celebrate the national day.

Port Adelaide Enfield Council hosts its Australia Day Awards on January 25.

The Advertiser can reveal the City of Prospect has also flagged changes are likely, while the Onkaparinga City Council is currently undertaking community consultation about holding events on Australia Day.

The revelation comes after the federal government announced an update to its citizenship code in December that removed red tape allowing councils to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies three days either side of January 26.

Adelaide Hills Mayor Jan-Claire Wisdom. Picture Dean Martin

Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Claire Boan. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt.

Adelaide Hills Mayor Jan-Claire Wisdom said the decision of her council recognised the difficulties of the day for First Nations Peoples.

“For many Australians January 26 is a day of celebration and national pride, however many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Aboriginal Australians, consider it a day of mourning,” Dr Wisdom said.

“This is a barrier to people participating in citizenship and award ceremonies, which are by nature supposed to be inclusive community events.”

Dr Wisdom said the council engaged with key stakeholders to better understand the opportunities and impacts of change.

Mitcham Mayor, Heather Holmes-Ross. Picture Dean Martin

Unley Mayor Michael Hewitson. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“We considered feedback from community groups which hold events on Australia Day and while some preferred to keep them as is, there were others keen to find a date that is more

inclusive of the whole community,” she said.

“We took advice from the Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group and engaged with the Australia Day Council of South Australia.”

The vote to change the date of proceedings received unanimous support.

The same could not be said for the City of Unley’s decision to move its official proceedings to the evening on January 25.

It appeared to divide elected members with the motion only passing with a narrow vote of seven to five.

In his monthly address to his constituents, Mayor Michael Hewitson described the council’s debate on the topic as “controversial”.

The City of Mitcham’s decision was not just about respecting culture but also a money-saving exercise.

By moving their awards and citizenship ceremonies to the evening of January 25, the council revealed it would save almost $13,000 in material expenses.

A Local Government Association spokesman said changes to the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code had given councils more flexibility to align themselves with community preference.

“The LGA supports councils making decisions around citizenship and award ceremonies that encourage inclusivity and consider the diverse communities they represent,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Mitcham Council said it had voted this month to avoid the cost mark-up of Public Holiday events and instead hold the celebrations the previous day on 25th January.

“Council considered options to facilitate City of Mitcham’s 2024 Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony, including potential benefits and implications of conducting the event on a day other than the public holiday on Friday 26 January 2024,’’ she said.

Onkaparinga is consulting with residents about changes, with options including no celebration on the official Australia Day holiday.

“We understand and respect you may feel passionately about the date of Australia Day, please understand that this consultation is only about the events provided on Australia Day by the City of Onkaparinga. Council has no jurisdiction over the setting of public holidays,’’ the statement issued to ratepayers reads.

Gawler Mayor Karen Redman said no decisions had been made, but council was aware there needed to be a balance of opinions.

“As a council, we understand the significance of Australia Day as a national day of celebration and reflection. We respect the diverse opinions and perspectives surrounding this day and recognise its importance to many members of our community,’’ she said.

A spokesman for Unley Council said events would be held the day before the traditional Australia Day.

“Council resolved at its meeting in May 2023 that a Citizenship Ceremony and Australia Day awards will be held on the evening of 25 January, prior to Australia Day,’’ he said. “The City of Unley always recognises pre-settlement history.”

Originally published as Adelaide Hills Council abandons official Australia Day events