Backlash erupts after surprise council move leaves locals fuming

A new decision by a regional council has reignited the long-standing debate around one of the country’s most polarising public holidays.

While Australia Day has always stirred strong opinions, this latest move has struck a nerve with locals who feel their views are being ignored.

Now, community members are voicing their frustration after being blindsided by the unexpected change.


In a move that’s ruffled more than a few feathers, Dubbo Regional Council, located in the heart of the Orana Region, has voted to shift its official Australia Day ceremonies from the traditional 25 January to 26 January, starting next year.

This decision, made at a council meeting on Tuesday, comes despite a local poll showing a whopping 87 per cent of residents wanted to keep the celebrations on the original date.

The reaction is outrage, confusion, and a sense of being ignored. One local didn’t mince words, calling the change ‘absolutely outrageous’ and ‘an abuse of power’.


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Dubbo Regional Council in NSW has voted to move Australia Day ceremonies from 26 January to 25 January next year, despite strong opposition from locals. Credit: Facebook


‘I’m angry about it. Decisions as big as a country celebration should be a community vote only,’ they said.

Another resident argued, ‘The date is always over-exaggerated on why and how it’s celebrated.’

So, what’s behind the council’s controversial move? Labour Councillor Pam Wells, a well-known Aboriginal activist, successfully pushed for the amendment.


She referred to January 26 as ‘Survival Day’—a term used by many Indigenous Australians who see the date as a painful reminder of colonisation, rather than a day of national pride.

There’s a growing movement across the country to change the date to one that all Australians can celebrate, and Dubbo’s decision is the latest chapter in this ongoing debate.

Interestingly, Dubbo’s new date will now align with nearby Wellington, which has held its own Australia Day event on 25 January since 2023.

The council says this change is about ‘balancing the needs of the community’ and providing a range of activities for everyone.

In a social media response to a frustrated local, the council clarified: ‘We have not changed the date of Australia Day. Council determined that events and activities to recognise Australia Day in Dubbo and Wellington will be held on 25 January. We encourage residents to spend Australia Day on 26 January in a way that is meaningful to them.’

But not everyone is convinced. Councillor Shibli Chowdhury, who proposed an amendment to keep the ceremonies on January 26, saw his motion voted down six to three.


He expressed disappointment, saying, ‘We need to move to the future together and as an elected body we need to listen.’

He cited a survey of 109 locals, where 87 per cent wanted the ceremony to remain on the 26th.

Councillor Lukas Butler also referenced the survey, but it was dismissed by some as ‘not statistically significant’ due to the small sample size.

The debate over Australia Day’s date is nothing new. For many Indigenous Australians, 26 January marks the beginning of a long and painful history of dispossession and struggle.

For others, it’s a day to celebrate the nation’s achievements and multicultural identity.

The push to ‘Change the Date’ has gained momentum in recent years, with some councils and organisations choosing to hold alternative events or move their official ceremonies.


But what happens when a council’s decision goes against the overwhelming wishes of its community? That’s the question now facing Dubbo, and it’s one that’s likely to echo in other towns and cities as the national conversation continues.

For our members, this issue might hit close to home. Many of us have fond memories of Australia Day barbecues, citizenship ceremonies, and community events.

But we also know the importance of listening to all voices and finding ways to move forward together.
Key Takeaways

  • Dubbo Regional Council in NSW has voted to move Australia Day ceremonies from 26 January to 25 January next year, despite strong opposition from locals.
  • A local poll showed 87 per cent of residents were against changing the date, with many expressing anger and calling the move an ‘abuse of power’.
  • The change was led by Councillor Pam Wells, who argued for a more inclusive celebration and referred to 26 January as ‘Survival Day’ for Indigenous Australians.
  • Some councillors and community members criticised the decision, arguing that the council ignored community feedback, while the council claimed that the new date offered a balance for all residents.
What do you think, members? Should councils have the power to move Australia Day ceremonies, or should the community have the final say? Have you seen similar debates in your area? And how do you feel about the ongoing discussion around Australia Day’s date?

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Please share your opinions and experiences in the comments below.

Read more: Local council's bold move to change Australia Day celebrations sparks community debate
 
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As an Aboriginal man, Australia Day is worth celebrating January 26 as has now been done so for over 100 years.
The woke people are not part of culture here.
It’s time to get together and celebrate that day. If you disagree, gave your party else where.
The say doesn’t only celebrate the English invasion of our nation. It celebrates the creation of out community and beginning a new richness.
Yes bad stuff happened which x t be forgiven, but that was the times then.
An honest, upfront, and non opinionated post.
Thank you.
 
I am a direct descendant of the English dating back to 1824.

Before that, my ancestors where French. Now most people know my overt hatred of the French. My surname even bears the name of a small French town.

FMD! I can't win!! 😁
If you ever met my brother in law, he would tell you that he is the great great great great grandson of the Governor that was on our $10 note.
We always kindly remind him that before he was voted in to power, he was a crim, sent out from England !!!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
located in the heart of the Orana Region, has voted to shift its official Australia Day ceremonies from the traditional 25 January to 26 January, starting next year

Australia day is the 26th January not the 25th.

There is no need to change the date, what needs to be done is put the past in the past and come together and celebrate Australia as one .

Today's Australians had nothing to do with the invasion or the stolen generation. Maybe if they need to blame someone then blame the culprits The English !!
But we wouldn't be who we are now without the English, we could be Dutch. :oops:
 
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located in the heart of the Orana Region, has voted to shift its official Australia Day ceremonies from the traditional 25 January to 26 January, starting next year

Australia day is the 26th January not the 25th.

There is no need to change the date, what needs to be done is put the past in the past and come together and celebrate Australia as one .

Today's Australians had nothing to do with the invasion or the stolen generation. Maybe if they need to blame someone then blame the culprits The English !!
I agree,
But why did'nt Portugal or Spain discover this continent first.
Answer = if they did, there would be no {Indigenous problem}
Checkout Sth America and ask the people what they think of Spain and Portugal
 
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Ditch it altogether.
No more petty bickering or arguing then.
Let the poms celebrate it in their own country after all, they "discovered" Australia whether aboriginals were here or not.
So Ched, TomTom, what is your anger issue?
 
don't care what day it is -- the point here that every one is overlooking conveniently is this--Councillors are elected by rate payers to carry out council business and they do not have a constitutional authority to change holidays to suit them selves
If the survey shows 87% wanted the date to remain the same then it is beholden on the Councillors to abide by the rate payers decision REGARDLESS
They are just paid by the rate payers and should if they are responsible people OBEY what the rates payers decide and not consider themselves above the rate payers to do what they like
Yes you are right, the Council have absolutely no right what so ever to change the day, they are not the Government and they are the only ones who can do that. The problem is now Councillors get paid a wage which by far out ways the work they do, you have every dickhead under the sun getting into Council. Should go back to when the only person who got some money was the Mayor and that was only a token amount. It's like all the Independents in our voting, they should not be allowed to be individual, it should be the Independent Party and they all come under that Banner, same all these dickheads go into Parliament and NOTHING gets done because they are ALL pushing their own barrow. 26th January is and always will be Australia Day in my eyes and if you don't like it do your own thing and leave everyone else alone.
 
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I will probably get some nasty feedback from what I have to say. The council is there for the people (well that's what I thought anyway). If they did a survey on locals (It really doesn't matter how many) and 87% want the date to stay as the 26th of January, then that is what it should be.
Forget nasty feedback that only comes from people who don't understand or lived with them.
You have your God given right to free speech, and if the "Nae Sayers" don't like it WHO CARES.
We don't.🙄🙄
 
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Does it mean a long weekend? I went to school with some indigenous girls (it was a girl's technical high school). One of them often said that a few would give others a bad reputation. Surprisingly I was the one that was regularly bullied, not them

I am 50% Dingo, 18% German Shepherd, 15% Golden Labrador, 12% Rhodesian Ridgeback and 5% Rottweiler.

I'm a baby eating black Nazi cuddly son of a bitch!
OK Neale l get your point l'm not stupid
 
I totally agree with you. In my opinion white people who claim to be an aboriginal are insulting the true aboriginals. Go outback and you will see true aboriginals are black, not like the pretend aboriginals in the cities with their hands out. The true aboriginals outback don't want to know about the white aborigines (according to what they have told me). So before you criticize what I have said: know that you will be criticizing the true aboriginals.
Absolutely agree, tired of the mixed blood whinging, they need to get off their A***s and pay their own way , where would they be if the Japanese had of taken Australia, they wouldn’t be around to whinge.
 
Hi Novezar, Well said, at last someone with balls and guts to call this insipid bunch of useless politicians ( Labour ) out. When will we stop being nice and every city in our once great country do what the ratbags are doing - PROTEST, lets stand up against them, but guess what - as long as people are getting free money, they will do nothing - I am 85 and fear for the future of Australia as we once knew it.
My hands are up ,first in line to protest , I also fear for our once great Country .
 
How long are we going to have to put up with this divide….How long are we going to continue paying for the discovery of Australia and the stolen generation. The indigenous population seem to have a say in everything we do, holding the rest of us to ransom in the hope of making thousands and millions of dollars……isn’t it time that all this stops, that bending over double to continue placating the aboriginals is just playing into what they want….money, it’s always about money. Everyone can celebrate any day as they like….I mean it’s a fact that this continent was found on January 25, and yes by the English, but that’s where the roots of today’s Australians begin……and I even agree that the indigenous population of the time would have suffered because of it…..but neither of today’s populations had anything to do with what happened, it’s just that every country today, was discovered and/or invaded hundreds of years ago, with the natives usually assimilated into the new population. I think it’s very backward to have a divide of populations in Australia in 2025…….Will we still have a divide in another 50 years, 100 years……….. I’m happy to celebrate on both days if it men’s a bit of peace to do..
I’ve been reading the comments and it seems I was wrong about the day Captain Cook landed, but very surprised that the date for Australia Day came about in the 1940’s……….so we’re not really celebrating Invasion Day or the other one…..Only an Australia Day for everyone……. I agree with the lady who said reporters should write an article about it and remind people what Australia Day is really all about .
 
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It is high time that people actually researached why Austsralia Day is when it is. Captain Cook DID NOT aprrive in Australia until APRIL 1770.

An act of Parliament was passed in 1948/49 for us to become AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS and NOT continue being British subjects. Guess what date that act of Parliament came into affect??? Could it possibly have been a certain date in January? Yes it was.

Time for the media to start reminding people of these facts. Come to Victoria where Jacinta has decided that over $200 million can be spent of some sort of treaty with the indigenous folk but can't possible provide $20 million for pallitive care!!!
I didn’t know most of that….. but I agree with you…
 
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I have many Indigenous friends and not one of them gives a rat's arse about when Australia Day is held.

Just another public holiday for them, just like us white fellas.

But get rid of the public holidays for a fiction character, namely Christmas and Good Friday.

Let's celebrate the 18th of November - Mickey Mouse's birthday!
 
Australia Day is the only day that Australians celebrate, and immigrants receive their Australian Citizenship Certificate
Aboriginals celebrate numerous days a year. Sadly they are turning our Australia Day into another day for themselves.
20250731_165440.jpg
Why do they want to spoil our once a year celebration. We have not insisted that they cancel or change any of theirs
In fact the schools and local people celebrate NAIDOC WEEK with them and attend their workshops & teachings.
I am so tired of us white folk being blamed for things that happened over 200 years ago, that none of us, black or white physically took part in.
I nievely thought that Sorry Day is what they wanted but that's not enough apparently. Sadly it's never going to be enough for the activists pushing forward these ideals.
 

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