City of Yarra stripped of citizenship ceremony powers after vote to scrap Australia Day

UPDATE: YARRA council will lose its powers to conduct citizenship ceremonies after its controversial decision to no longer acknowledge Australia Day on January 26.

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YARRA council will lose its powers to conduct citizenship ceremonies after its controversial decision to no longer acknowledge Australia Day on January 26.

The Turnbull Government will strip the ability of council office holders to receive a pledge of commitment at a citizenship ceremony.

The government has warned the council that its action was a significant breach of the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code.

Prospective citizens will have to attend ceremonies in neighbouring councils.

Yarra conducts about six ceremonies a year.

Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Alex Hawke said the government would not tolerate Yarra’s use of ceremonies as a political device in a campaign against Australia Day.

“The instrument I have signed today means there will be no more citizenship ceremonies conducted by the City of Yarra on behalf of the Government,” he said.

Earlier in parliament, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull launched a fierce attack on those who want to change the date of Australia Day on the floor of parliament, calling the national holiday a time for celebration of a successful multicultural society.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has slammed City of Yarra’s move. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Mr Turnbull said Yarra Council’s decision sought to take a day that united Australians and turn “it into one that divides” and was “utterly out of step” with Australian values

“But on Australia Day, we recognise the greatness of our achievement as Australians.”

“This is an attack on Australia Day and a repudiation of the values the day celebrates: freedom, a fair go, mateship and diversity.”

He said to change the date would be to “turn our back on Australian values”.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten backed Mr Turnbull’s statements and said reconciliation was more about changing hearts rather than moving a public holiday.

Yarra City Council mayor Amanda Stone defended the decision to scrap Australia Day and to only refer to it as “January 26” saying the reaction she’s had has been “predominantly positive”.

“I’ve just come out of an active advisory meeting where they all clapped and cheered,” she said.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from the community.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today told the Herald Sun he was “deeply disappointed” by the council.

Amanda Stone. Picture: Yarra City Council

But Ms Stone labelled his criticism disappointing.

“It’s a really disappointing comment from a Prime Minister who understands what reconciliation means and would surely know what January 26 represents to aboriginal people,” she said.

“In fact, persisting with that date as a day of national celebration is actually a divisive date because it excludes the whole proportion of out population who don’t feel this is relevant to them.”

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the City of Melbourne would “absolutely not” follow City of Yarra’s lead.

“We will celebrate Australia Day on the 26th as we always do (and) I’d point out that we always have the most senior Wurundjeri elder, Aunty Joy, who does provide a welcome to country in the most generous spirited way on Australia Day for us each year,” he said.

“Australia Day is one of the days … that brings us together. When you see the different cultural groups, when you see the different clubs and societies, when you see them proudly in their national costume but waving an Australian flag you understand that we are one Melbourne.”

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and wife Emma Page Campbell march in City of Melbourne’s Australia Day parade.

The City of Yarra last night controversially voted to stop citizenship celebrations on the national holiday, and will also no longer acknowledge January 26 as Australia Day.

Under changes officially adopted, the council will now only reference the day as January 26 until “a more appropriate term is adopted nationally”.

Council will also stop holding citizenship ceremonies and other community awards on January 26, with these events replaced by a small smoking ceremony acknowledging the Aboriginal community.

“On Australia Day, we celebrate what’s great about our wonderful nation. An attack on Australia Day is a repudiation of the values the day celebrates: freedom, a fair go, mateship and diversity,” he said.

“Yarra council is using a day that should unite Australians to divide Australians.

“I recognise Australia Day, and its history, is complex for many indigenous Australians but the overwhelming majority of Australians believe the 26th of January is the day and should remain our national day.”

Transport minister Jacinta Allan said she was a big supporter of Australia Day.

Malcolm Turnbull told the Herald Sun he was “deeply disappointed” by the council. Picture: Kris Reichl

“In my experience … of attending Australia Day events in my hometown of Bendigo, they’ve become a day where the community recognises it’s an opportunity just to get together,” she said.

“To enjoy a day off, it’s a beautiful time of year to enjoy coming together as a community and celebrating those strengths we have as a community.”

LOCAL COUNCILS WARNED NOT TO POLITICISE CITIZENSHIP CEREMONIES

Yarra staff and councillors will also investigate how to lobby the Federal Government to change the date nationally and present the findings of its reports to other councils.

Yarra City Council does not have the authority to change the date or name of Australia Day, but can choose to no longer refer to it by that name in all official communication.

Councillors backed the recommendations by pointing to an online survey of 88 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with 82 per cent of respondents supportive of council’s push to change the date.

Another 281 people were polled in separate street survey, with 45.9 per cent agreeing council should support the campaign.

Multiple submissions were made to defer or strike out plans to stop citizenship ceremonies, but these were all soundly defeated.

Mr Turnbull said Australia Day citizenship ceremonies were about inclusion.

“We begin with a welcome to country and an acknowledgment of country, and we celebrate our multicultural nation; we celebrate the oldest continuous human culture on earth, of our First Australians, just as we celebrate the youngest baby in the newest citizen’s arms,” he said.

“Any local council that breaches its duties under the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code can have its authorisation to conduct citizenship ceremonies revoked.”

Cr Mi-Li Chen Yi Mei, who introduced the motion, said she recognised not everyone would be happy with the council’s decision.

“I think branding January 26 is an important move because it’s not inclusive,” she told the meeting.

“Sometimes I think it’s important to realise that it takes a little courage to change and make reform.”