Adelaide Hills Council motion for community consultation over Australia Day changes is rejected at meeting

Fears Adelaide Hills Council could open up a platform for racism has led to a motion on Australia Day being rejected - but not without a split vote.

People enjoy beach cricket on Australia Day on Aldinga Beach in January. Picture: Brett Hartwig

A motion to consider community consultation over a council’s plans to move Australia Day events has been rejected due to fears debate would be at the “detriment of residents”.

In July last year, Adelaide Hills Council decided not to support “any events” held on January 26 – opting to move award presentations and citizen ceremonies away from the date.

But Councillor Pauline Gill criticised the move, and said the process of “listening to the diverse range of opinions” should have first taken place.

Ms Gill subsequently moved a motion to request an independent community consultation over the decision.

On Tuesday night that motion was rejected.

The meeting was attended by members of the public, including those who signed a 116-signature petition urging council to reject the motion.

Deputy Mayor Nathan Daniell said council members held a “a position of responsibility” residents, while delivering the verdict.

“While this motion is about consultation, it must be considered in context to our previous decision,” Mr Daniell said.

“Undertaking a consultation on such a contentious issue does have risks, as outlined by a number of elected members this evening.

“We must now ask ourselves; will this additional consultation add value – or would it open up more conversation, which is to the detriment of our residents?

A Survival Day protest and Rally in Victoria Square, Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

“There are different views – and there always will be on an issue such as this – so then you need to consider on balance.

“And on balance, I view this motion will not be a decision that continues to provide considerable principled leadership for our community or for the continued journey of reconciliation.”

Speaking before the meeting, Cr Gill said the council should listen to “the diverse range of opinions” of ratepayers.

“As a democratic society, I feel it is prudent for the council to validate if the decision made to move Australia Day events to other days, is what most of our citizens want and listen to all sides of the debate,” she wrote.

“This is not a motion to look at changing the status of council’s decision to hold Australia Day celebrations on alternative days.

“It is about listening to the diverse range of opinions of the community and providing the consultation that should have occurred prior to the decision.”

A Survival Day protest and rally in Victoria Square on Australia Day. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

However, Councillor Melanie Selwood said council should stand by its original decision, citing a petition signed by 116 people, which will be presented to council tonight during a public delegation.

The petition urged council to reject Ms Gill’s motion “out of respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ratepayers”.

“I believe last year’s federal referendum on the Voice to parliament became a platform for hatred and racism. I wouldn’t want to see the same happen in this matter,” she said.

“This week we have a petition coming to council asking us to stand by the decision we made last year to move our citizenship and award ceremonies away from January 26.

“Council made a strong leadership decision that is supported by many in the community. I believe we should stand by our decision.

“Council undertook targeted consultation last year when we made the decision to move our citizenship and award ceremonies away from January 26. It is my view that this decision wasn’t a proxy referendum on Australia Day – that is a matter for the federal government.”

A number of South Australian councils have made the decision to abandon official Australia Day celebrations – including citizenship ceremonies – out of respect for the “culture and values” of First Nations people.

Daniel Morgan with his flag at the Survival Day SA protest and rally. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Both Unley and Mitcham council have moved celebrations, Adelaide City Council moved official events to January 25 and Port Adelaide Enfield council also changed its celebration date.

City of Adelaide council documents revealed moving the events to the day before the gazetted Australia Day public holiday would save ratepayers $5000.

It said the move would “enable citizenship recipients, Citizen of the Year awardees and corporation staff, and contractors engaged to support delivery of the ceremony to celebrate the Australia Day public holiday with family and friends”.

Originally published as Adelaide Hills Council motion for community consultation over Australia Day changes is rejected at meeting