WATTLE Range Council will welcome migrants from council areas where the Federal Government has stripped local government of its power to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.
Councillors voted to support a motion moved by Mayor Peter Gandolfi to undertake citizenship ceremonies on January 26 for people living outside the Wattle Range Council area.
The resolution follows the Victorian councils of Yarra and Darebin being stripped of powers to hold citizenship ceremonies after voting to scrap Australia Day celebrations.
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“I think it would be advantageous to offer to conduct citizenship ceremonies for those poor people in Melbourne councils,” Mr Gandolfi said.
“Since flagging this motion, there’s been a lot of positive comments about this council and I think this would be seen quite positively by a majority of the community not only locally, but across the country.”
Councillor Rob Thornett expressed concern about the celebration of Australia Day on January 26, stressing it was important to be conscious of the indigenous community.
“We have to realise not everyone is happy about celebrating Australia Day,” he said.
“Since 1939, Aboriginal people in Australia regard it as a day of mourning.
“I do understand the fact that for Aboriginal people they must look at that day with a bit of a mix of feelings whether to celebrate.
“For them, it was an invasion of their land by foreigners.
“I know it’s over 200 years ago, but that’s a common sentiment within Aboriginal communities.”
Speaking in support of Mr Gandolfi’s motion, Cr John Drew said he believed the nation had “moved on” from the day’s historical meaning.
“Australia Day is an opportunity to reflect on a day we come together to celebrate what’s good about being Australian,” Cr Drew said.
“It’s not about a landing in 1788. “A lot of our days we celebrate as being significant have quite dubious backgrounds.
“I think we’ve moved on from the background of Australia Day and we’ve moved on to what that means as Australians.”
Cr Kevin McGrath said he believed many Australians do not liken the national holiday to the destruction of indigenous culture and lives.
“There’s very few people in Australia who really know what January 26 refers to, especially with the influx of migrants over the years,” he said.
“Not many people would reflect on that day as the beginning of the end.”
In closing debate, Mr Gandolfi said it was not local government’s responsibility to decide when Australia Day should be held.
“The date is established by the Federal Government,” he said.
“We’re a local council and it’s a national holiday. “We should celebrate it as our national day and until it changes I don’t think it’s responsible, or even Australian, to not celebrate Australia Day.”
