Australia Day - Steady as she goes, says Council

August 2017 | Sharon Webb

MEANDER VALLEY Councillors believe local government has no role deciding on a change to the date of Australia Day.  Following Hobart City Council’s decision to lobby for a change of date, Cllr Andrew Connor moved a motion at the July meeting that Meander Valley should join the lobby at the upcoming Local Government of Tasmania meeting.

He said if modern Australia wants to be fully inclusive it needs to find a day to celebrate its nationhood which is acceptable to all people, possibly 1st January.

“Councils play a large part in community events on Australia Day around the country,” Cllr Connor said.

“This year, Meander Valley Council held its Australia Day event on 25th January and no issues were raised by the community about it not being held on the actual gazetted national day,” he said.

“Australia Day is important to many in our community but also contentious to indigenous and nonindigenous people because the date is also viewed as Invasion Day.”

Only Cllr Bob Richardson supported Cllr Connor’s motion.