Darebin councillors take step closer to NAIDOC Week public holiday

In a controversial move, Darebin councillors unanimously voted to push for a NAIDOC Week public holiday, despite claims it was “divisive”.

Darebin Councillors unanimously voted to support Indigenous calls for a NAIDOC Week public holiday.

A group of inner-city councillors have voted to push for a public holiday to mark NAIDOC Week.

Darebin councillors voted on the motion put forward by councillor Susan Rennie on September 26, despite the move being slammed as “unhinged” and “divisive”.

The move follows a recommendation from the Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee, saying it was a chance for Australians to “reflect”.

“The fact we don’t have a public holiday commemorating our First Nations people just defies the imagination in 2022,” she said.

“It’s important that we take a stand and advocate for this, because it is something we can do.”

“It’s also important to remind people that this land was never ceded.

“Without moves like this, without celebrating our Indigenous people, we can’t have truth telling either. This is an important step towards that.”

In agreeance with Cr Rennie, councillors Tim Laurence and Gaetano Greco both spoke on the motion.

“NAIDOC Week is already celebrated by our localities, and we have many First Nations organisations and sports clubs in Darebin,” Cr Laurence said.

“NAIDOC Week is always a fantastic time of the year.

“Having a national or even a state holiday would spread awareness and education in a positive way for First Nations people,” he said.

Cr Greco said it was “a chance for Australians to remember the 65,000 year history of Australia”.

“It’s just time for something like this,” he said.

“A national holiday like this would recognise the 65,000 year history of our country, and the long and deep history the land has with its First Nations people.

“It would put it into the national psyche. It would further tell the story of our continent.”

Cr Rennie said should this go forward, the date of the holiday would be decided by Indigenous communities.

“The idea is to have it around NAIDOC Week, but ultimately, the final decision for the date would be made by the representatives of the First Nations people,” she said.

Previously, director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs, Dr Bella d’Abrera, said the country already had a day of celebration.

“We already have a day to come together and celebrate achievements in our communities and it’s called Australia Day, which a majority of Australians support as our national day,” she said.

“It is a disgrace that Darebin councillors use divisive debates such this to hide behind because they have been caught out bullying and fighting among each other. In fact, their performance is so bad that the even the Andrews Government has appointed a municipal monitor to make sure they do their job.”

The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation has been contacted for comment.

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