Melbourne’s annual Australia Day parade won’t be returning

A decision by one state not to reinstate a major Australia Day event has been confirmed, amid claims January 26 is “not a date to celebrate”.

The Victorian government has confirmed it has no plans to reinstate the annual Australia Day parade in Melbourne, four years after it was cut.

News.com.au understands that the parade will not be among the program of activities the Victorian Government has planned for January 26, 2025

There will be a number of events available for those who wish to attend, including the annual 21-gun salute at the Shrine of Remembrance and RAAF flyover.

There will also be a flag-raising ceremony and Open Day at Government House.

“The Victorian Government supports a range of Australia Day events that celebrate what makes our state and nation special,” A Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet spokesperson told news.com.au.

“The program for Australia Day 2025 provides a range of free and accessible events for Victorian families.”

Meanwhile, a Department of Premier and Cabinet spokesman told the Herald Sun: “We also recognise that January 26 means different things to different people.

“On this day, we encourage conversation and reflection on the different meanings of the day for all Victorians.”

Melbourne’s Australia Day Parade has been cut. Picture: iStock

Ngarra Murray, Co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, agreed with the decision to cut the Melbourne parade.

“The Aboriginal community has a range of views on January 26, but whichever way you look at it, it’s a day of mourning for a lot of our people,” Ms Murray told the Herald Sun.

“So it’s not a date to celebrate.”

Australia Day is a day of mourning for many. Picture: NCA Newswire/Dan Peled

The Invasion Day Rally on January 26, 2024 in Melbourne. Picture: Tamati Smith/Getty Images

Meanwhile, thousands of government workers will be able to choose to work on Australia Day and negotiate a different day to have off under the official policy from the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The move is supported by the current Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, however there are concerns that if employees in the private sector follow suit, it could become costly for businesses.

The parade was first cancelled in 2020, with Victorian Premier Daniel Anders placing the blame on Covid-19. Many found it an odd decision as the Boxing Day Test went ahead, attracting more than 30,000 people.

A Roy Morgan poll showed that more than two-thirds of Australians wish to keep the day on January 26, while 31.5 per cent supported renaming January 26 as “Invasion Day”.

Dan Andrews blamed the parade cancellation on Covid-19. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Ian Currie

Victorian councils are increasingly stepping back from previous decisions to cancel Australia Day celebrations, voting to reinstate activities on January 26.

The City of Greater Geelong Council voted to reconsider an earlier decision to celebrate Australia Day at a meeting on Tuesday. It asked the chief executive to prepare a report for the next council meeting in January.

Last year, the council supported a recommendation to change the way the city celebrated Australia Day following engagement with First Nations Peoples and the community.

However, when the council consulted with the community it found many residents in the Geelong area were unhappy with its decision.

City of Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj said he fully supported the decision to reconsider celebrating Australia Day on January 26.

“It is important to note that Australia Day is a national day proclaimed by the federal government, and the decision on which date to observe it is not one for local councils to make,” he said.

“Australia Day is a day when we should be reflecting on and celebrating everything that is great and good about this country.”

Other Victorian councils took a similar approach 2023, with the City of Greater Bendigo moving its Australia Day citizenship ceremony to January 25.

The Strathbogie Shire Council also previously voted to stop supporting Australia Day celebrations on January 26 from this year.

However, it reversed its decision at a council meeting on Tuesday.

Pro Aboriginal and Palestinian protester march through the streets of Melbourne to mark Invasion Day. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Luis Enrique Ascui

Pub backlash

Earlier in the month, hospitality giant Australian Venue Co backflipped on its plan to ban Australia Day festivities for patrons at more than 200 venues around the country after admitting the decision had caused “concern and confusion”.

“We sincerely regret that – our purpose is to reinforce community in our venues, not divide it,” the company said in a statement.

“It is not for us to tell anyone whether or how to celebrate Australia Day.”

It came following calls to boycott the giant following the controversial announcement.

“Let’s spread the news of these Australia Day bans far a wide and boycott these hotels, not just on that day, but every day,” one person wrote.

“I’ll make sure I never set foot into any of your pubs ever again,” another man posted.

Australian Venue Co had originally directed managers not to allow flagwavers to celebrate in its establishments on January 26.

“Australia Day is a day that causes sadness for some members of our community, so we have decided not to specifically celebrate a day that causes hurt for some of our patrons and our team,” an Australian Venue Co spokeswoman told the Herald Sun.

‘Force councils to reconsider’

A senior Liberal MP recently pledged to force local councils into holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

The move would overturn Labor-era reforms which allow for a three-day buffer on either side of January 26.

The Coalition’s immigration spokesman, Dan Tehan, said new citizens should have the opportunity to become Australians on “our national day”.

Dan Tehan said new citizens should have the opportunity to become Australians on ‘our national day’. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

“A Coalition government will require councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day,” he told NewsWire.

“(Anthony Albanese) says he has no plans to change the date but he does nothing to show support for Australians who want to celebrate on our national day because he is scared of the backlash from the Greens, especially in his inner city electorate.

“The Coalition believes that new citizens should have the opportunity to become Australians on our national day.”

The City of Wanneroo in Perth’s North, Adelaide’s City of Unley and the City of Greater Geelong council are considering reverting to holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

- with NCA Newswire