Geelong council stands firm on Australia Day stance, votes down Cr Eddy Kontelj’s motion,

Geelong council has stood firm on its May decision and voted down a motion to re-commence engagement on how it recognises Australia Day.

Geelong councillors have stood firm on their decision to change the way the city recognises Australia Day, voting down a motion raised by councillor Eddy Kontelj.

In May, the council unanimously voted to cease referring to January 26 and change the way it recognised the date, including holding citizenship ceremonies within three days of the date, rather than on the day and holding reconciliation events.

Mr Kontelj said council’s changes had resulted in “strong backlash and concern” from the community, and said on social media his own voting for the change was an “error of judgment”.

Cr Eddy Kontelj and Mayor Trent Sullivan in 2023. Picture: Alan Barber

The motion called on City Hall to conduct a further three-month period of “extensive community engagement”.

However, the matter was swiftly dealt with at Tuesday’s December meeting, without a debate.

Raised to a chorus of jeers from members of the gallery, it ended in applause when it was voted down.

Prior to the motion being put to the chamber, councillor Peter Murrihy put forward a procedural motion, seconded by councillor Elise Wilkinson, that would see Mr Kontelj’s motion go to a straight vote - skipping a debate on the issue.

The procedural motion narrowly passed, with councillors Murrihy, Wilkinson, Mason, Harwood and Moloney voting for it, and mayor Trent Sullivan, deputy mayor Anthony Aitken, and councillors Hathway and Kontelj voting against.

Mr Kontelj’s motion was then subsequently voted down, with Mr Kontelj and Ron Nelson, who seconded the motion, the only councillors to vote for it.

After the initial votes, Mr Kontelj called for a division against both votes, however the initial votes were upheld, and the motion was lost.

At the beginning of the meeting, mayor Trent Sullivan read a statement to note that regardless of the result, the council plans for January 26, 2024 would not have changed, and that it would not have impacted subsequent Australia Day events.

Originally published as Geelong council stands firm on Australia Day stance, votes down Cr Eddy Kontelj’s motion,