Melbourne council replaces Australia Day ceremony
Yarra Council, in Melbourne's inner north, will replace its Australia Day citizenship ceremony with an event "marking the loss of Indigenous culture", after a controversial motion was unanimously passed in a dramatic town hall meeting.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has criticised the council's decision to drop all references to Australia Day and cancel its annual citizenship ceremony, accusing it of repudiating Australian values and dividing the community.
The changes were brought before the council after months of consultation with the local Indigenous community.
"An attack on Australia Day is a repudiation of the values the day celebrates: freedom, a fair go, mateship and diversity," Mr Turnbull said in a statement.
Socialist councillor Stephen Jolly shared similar sentiments, saying it was important to "start listening to Indigenous Australians who see it very differently".
What do you think? Should we change the date of Australia Day? Should councils be free to decide on these issues for themselves?
Read more at abc.net.au
They should thank their lucky stars that it ws the British and not the Portugese of the Spanish that got here first - because if they had of, then there would have been none of them left. Invasion Day pfff, take a look at what happened in Africa and South America during that period of European colonisation of the globe. Invasion day.... Saved theem day I'd call it. That all asisde, as the song by "The Seekers" said, I am, you are, we are Australian!