Jeff Kennett lashes woke Victorian councils ‘too ashamed to celebrate Australia Day’

Ex Premier Jeff Kennett has taken aim at Victorian councils that boycotted Australia Day celebrations, saying those “too ashamed” to celebrate the day would have been removed under his reign.

Former Premier Jeff Kennett said he would shut down every Victorian council that boycotted Australia Day if he was still in power.

Mr Kennett’s threat comes after several local councils ditched their traditional January 26 events, with some instead opting to mark the day as one of mourning.

Mr Kennett, who led the state between 1992 and 1999, took aim at the municipalities that had walked away from citizenship ceremonies and official events, stating “another stage of amalgamations” would be one of his first orders of business.

Jeff Kennett has lashed councils that boycotted Australia Day.

“They can be very, very fortunate that I am not in a position of power anymore because if I was, I’d have a realignment of council boundaries immediately and the municipalities who are too ashamed to celebrate Australia Day would be removed,” he told the Herald Sun.

“Often these councils have high numbers of people who have chosen Australia to call their home and create a new life. They should be the ones celebrating Australia Day and what it means to be Australian.”

Mr Kennett said he was tired of the annual Australia Day debate and called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to both vow to keep celebrating the day on January 26.

“Where is the leadership? We have this vacuum which gives rise to this everyday,” he said, taking aim at protesters who attended Friday’s Invasion Day rally.