South Australian councils under pressure to reverse Australia Day changes

Residents are petitioning for a South Australian council to revert to holding Australia Day events on January 26 while one council has already made the move based on community feedback.

Dozens of local councils changed the date of Australia Day events when the federal government legally allowed councils to hold citizenship ceremonies three days before or after January 26.

That move recognised January 26 was not a day of celebration to many Indigenous Australians, whose lives were forever changed when Captain Arthur Phillip established the first European settlement.

In Adelaide, City of Unley Council moved Australia Day events to January 25. It has now restored them to January 26.

That decision at Monday night’s council meeting followed a community survey which found 60 per cent of 842 residents who responded wanted Australia Day events to be held on Australia Day.

Mayor Michael Hewitson said, after careful consideration, the council decided “to honour the voice of the community”.

“We appreciate the feedback from all those who participated in the consultation and, while we recognise not everyone will agree with this outcome, we believe it reflects the majority sentiment of our community,” Hewitson said.

Adelaide Hills residents are now also petitioning their local council to reinstate Australia Day events to January 26.

About 300 signatures in support have reportedly so far been collected.

Campaign organiser Leone Taylor said there was a “quiet majority” of residents disappointed Adelaide Hills Council changed it’s Australia Day event.

“History is history — some of it’s good and some of it’s bad … we have to move on in the world,” she told NewsCorp.

Adelaide Hills Council has been contacted for comment.

In contrast to some SA residents’ views, a survey of 550 Australians released earlier this year found 67 per cent do not mind when Australia Day celebrations happen fall — as long as there is a dedicated day for national celebration.

Respondents even suggested May 27, Reconciliation Day, as the best alternative day for celebrations in the University of South Australia study.

Reconciliation SA chief executive Jason Downs said January 26 represented a day of “mourning, grief and trauma for First Nations people”.

He said changing Australia Day is “respectful step in acknowledging the past and addressing the historical impacts”.

“The negative impacts of colonisation are significant and impacts of this are still being felt today,” Downs said.

“The history of colonisation and the impacts to generations of First Nations people is not widely known or understood by many.”