Waverley Council has shelved a proposal to broaden its Australia Day program after its Indigenous advisory body cautioned the move could have a “negative impact” on First Nations residents.
The Sydney eastern suburbs council had been weighing the idea following a push from several councillors to add more community-focused activities to the January 26 commemorations.
The debate began in June when Liberal councillor Lauren Townsend advocated for a larger Australia Day event, but the plan was considered too costly, with an estimated price tag of $400,000.
Councillors Dov Frazer and Joshua Spicer later put forward a scaled-back option, proposing a free barbecue and community market stalls at a significantly lower cost of $20,000.
However, the council ultimately rejected the revised proposal after its First Nations Advisory Committee warned that extra celebrations on Australia Day could create “negative impact and potential harm” for the local Indigenous community.
“Australia Day is considered a day of mourning for many Aboriginal people and committee members felt they were being asked to celebrate at the expense of history and the devastation that resulted,” a report presented to council stated.
The report added that the committee would only support additional January 26 programming if it was framed as a “Survival Day” activity.
Labor councillor Margaret Merten said she could not back the proposal given the First Nations Advisory Committee had rejected it unanimously.
A council has abandoned plans to expand its Australia Day celebrations after its Indigenous advisory board warned it would have a ‘negative impact’
Merten led a local campaign to support the Yes vote in the 2023 Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.
‘Committee members of the First Nations Advisory Committee unanimously oppose the proposed Australia Day event,’ she said.
‘Our First Nations Advisory Committee said that they’re not opposed to celebrating being Australian, but recommended this not be done on the 26th of January.’
Greens councillor Ludovico Fabiano also opposed the proposal, arguing council already struck the right balance through its existing program.
‘We already have a process, a system in place that’s been accepted,’ he said.
‘We do citizenship ceremonies, we have a Welcome to Country and we already have a barbecue afterwards.’
Independent councillor Steven Lewis questioned whether the proposal was value for money, pointing out a barbecue was already run by Bondi Surf Club.
‘To spend $20,000 just to fulfil an earlier motion seems unnecessary,’ he said.
Council decided against it after its First Nations Advisory Committee warned it could cause a ‘negative impact and potential harm’ to the local Indigenous community
‘It adds nothing, it won’t be noticed and that’s why I’m going to vote against it.’
Spicer backed the proposal, saying it would provide ‘something for everyone’ by combining the Dawn Reflection, citizenship ceremonies, community barbecue and local market stalls.
‘I think there is no better way to celebrate the freedom we all enjoy than the free enterprise of market stalls of local businesses in our community,’ he said.
Frazer argued the revised proposal built on events already held by council, such as the Dawn Reflection ceremony and citizenship ceremonies.
He acknowledged many Indigenous Australians viewed the date as one of mourning.
‘For many Aboriginal people, the 26th of January is a day of mourning,’ he said.
‘That is not a talking point. It’s a fact and it deserves respect.’
However, he argued the expanded program was consistent with the committee’s recommendation to strengthen the community barbecue after the Dawn Reflection.
‘We begin Australia Day at dawn acknowledging and honouring our First Nations people and spend the rest of the day celebrating what we have all built together,’ he said.
‘That is not a contradiction.’
Waverley Council will retain its existing Australia Day program in 2027, including a Dawn Reflection ceremony, citizenship proceedings and a community barbecue.
