Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to express concern at the City of Albury's unilateral decision to dump its formal Australia Day celebrations next year. The council has done this without public consultation and without any debate afforded to its own councillors. Instead, an internal reconciliation committee decided to shift its community awards and citizenship ceremonies away from 26 January. This is cancellation by stealth of one of the most important days on our national calendar, and that is a disgrace. It must be reversed. My petition demanding the council keep Australia Day on 26 January where it belongs has been signed by 2,000 people and counting. It's ironic in the extreme. Albury's reconciliation action plan commits it to work with the community.

Following the failed voice referendum, an ANU study out last week found that most Australians do support reconciliation. What they don't want is radical change rammed through, and that's what we have here. Our community's response tells me and should tell Albury City: keep the date where it is. The final council meeting of the year is this Monday 11 December. Another date they should remember is 26 January. That is Australia Day, and we must not allow it to be tampered with through undemocratic and authoritarian action. Albury's councillors will have heard the message loud and clear. I hope and expect them to respond accordingly and keep Australia Day on 26 January.