Will the MIA stay with Australia Day?
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In the wake of certain councils across Australia moving to change the date and/or name of Australia Day, MIA’s councils were approached on whether there have been any plans afoot or discussions to move our national day from January 26.
Leeton Shire Council
Leeton mayor Paul Maytom said, “there have been no direct discussion in Leeton council".
He said the National Assembly of Local Government (a body representing councils across Australia) recently pushed for a national debate on a name change.
The motion carried by the Assembly was:
“That the National General Assembly encourage Australian councils to consider efforts they could take to lobby the federal government to change the date of recognition of Australia Day”.
But Mayor Maytom said Leeton Shire Council had not yet debated the issue.
"It is essential we take into account all community views before taking any action,” he said.
Griffith City Council
Of the three MIA councils approached, Griffith City Council were most definitive in their response.
"At this stage, Griffith City Council has no plans to change the local Australia Day event,” Mayor John Dal Broi said.
“Plans are underway with the Australia Day Committee, Chaired by Councillor Stead, for the 2018 Australia Day Ceremony.”
“Unless there is a directive from the Federal Government, Council will continue with the traditional date for Australia Day."
Murrumbidgee Council
“At this stage, Murrumbidgee Council has no comment,” the council said in a statement.
“It is possible this may be debated by the new Council following the September election”.
What is happening elsewhere in Australia
Marion council, in Adelaide, is the latest to vote on moving its Australia Day celebrations to another date.
Councillor Bruce Hull introduced a motion over the weekend that would acknowledge January 26 as the date of European invasion.
The City of Darebin Council, in Melbourne, have decided to not the words “Australia Day” in communications.
They will instead use the term "January 26".
Its Australia Day awards the be renamed "Darebin Community Awards".
Yarra council will no longer refer to January 26 as Australia Day and will hold an Indigenous-themed event instead of an annual citizenship ceremony on the day.
As a result, the Federal Government stripped Yarra council of its powers to hold citizenship ceremonies.