By Bonny Burrows
Cardinia Shire Council has “no plans” to alter its Australia Day events.
As other Victorian councils move to hold award and citizenship ceremonies on dates other than 26 January out of respect for Aboriginal people, Cardinia Shire Council has reassured residents that the annual tradition is safe.
The Gazette contacted the council after its Friday Thumbs social media post attracted several comments from residents expressing the hope that Cardinia wouldn’t follow the lead of Yarra City Council and the City of Darebin.
Darebin council has stopped referring to Australia Day and will use the term “January 26” instead and Yarra council will also no longer refer to 26 January as Australia Day and will hold an Indigenous-themed event instead of the annual citizenship ceremony on the day.
The Victorian councils have received harsh criticism from the State and Federal Governments, which both said the councils should be focusing their efforts elsewhere.
The Federal Government also stripped both councils of their powers to hold citizenship ceremonies.
Gazette readers said there was no need for Cardinia shire to “make a bold statement” by following suit.
“I hope it doesn’t happen in Cardinia Shire Council,” one reader, Andrew Cook, wrote in a comment that attracted 46 ‘likes’.
Another reader, Michelle Sanders, said she “100 per cent agreed”.
“Why is minority out saying the majority? This is Australia I live in, not some overseas country. If you don’t like it then don’t celebrate it, but do not ban it,” Ms Sanders said.
Cardinia Shire Council told the Gazette there were no changes on the horizon in regards to Australia Day events.
“At present, there are no plans to change or stop the Australia Day events for Cardinia Shire,” Cardinia Shire Council’s manager of governance Doug Evans said.
