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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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!
M I C K E Y M O U S E
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse

Maybe that's why I got my name named after him.
I was always a bit of a RAT bag 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
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!
HA !!!! Must be dinner time. All the messages have gone dead for now 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I deleted 90 messages from my deleted box earlier. Only 6 of those were emails from somewhere else.
The rest were all notification emails that someone had posted something in to relation of the topics I was reading or taking part in 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
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I just love the DNA suggestion for the so called aboriginals or more importantly "part" aboriginals , it would I think save millions in handouts to people who do not deserve it. As regards changing the 'Australia Day ' celebration , if you do not like it then do not take a day of work , that is if you work anyhow and just celebrate how you seem fit instead of upsetting the vast majority of Australian citizens.
 
Hi "SR",
I fully agree with what you've posted, except the last sentence.

We ALL should be PRAISING the English, especially one of the utmost best of sailors, the one & only Capt., James Cook. Claiming Australia in the name of King George 111.

If it wasn't for him, where the HELL WOULD WE ALL BE NOW. One thing I know, is, it's NOT HERE.

I'll tell everyone, for SURE & CERTAIN, we wouldn't be here doing what we are doing now of how we live.

There is ONE EXTREMELY EXCEPTIONALLY BAD THING NOW, i.e., how ALBO & his CIRCUS of ABSOLUTE CLOWNS are RUINING Australia with absolute STUPIDITY of the HIGHEST DEGREE.

Don't worry all of you LEFT WINGERS out there,& the TRUE BELIEVERS of the DOWNRIGHT LIES Albo & his COHORTS spread to all of us.

I don't reckon that Susan Ley has the "Knackers" to Chuck it to Albo.

I reckon that there are a lot of like minded people out there as myself.

I'm not apologising for my rant. I just couldn't help, nor, stop myself.

Don't worry, dear "SR", you are a true "Sweety". We all "LUV" you to bits.
Sounds like a loser who backed the wrong side.......move on, ALP are in for 9 years at least.....
 
LISTEN. The Correct Australia Day date is the 7th of February 1788. That is when the Proclamation was read to all who arrived, declaring the land a British Colony. There were native people in attendance as well. PLEASE read the written statements of the time. I am a member of The Fellowship of the First Fleet and have studied the First Fleet documents from front to back, so the 7th of February is the correct date we should be celebrating Australia Day. Maybe we should call the day "PROCULATION DAY".
Whatever day is chosen it will be disputed by the very vocal minority. May as well keep it on 26/1 and damn the lot of them!
Perhaps the dissenters should be enrolled in universities so they can complete an engineering degree - that way they can build a bridge :LOL::LOL:
 
Just celebrate on the day you think is appropriate don't worry what everyone else thinks have a barbecue and a couple of drinks and thank your lucky stars you live in Australia
Dear member Waggadragon, five stars to the best post tonight. I agree with your opinion 100%. Everyday should be a celebration that we are living in Australia. Wishing you a pleasant evening. 🙏🦋
 
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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.
View attachment 80381
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.
Unless there is the promise of money, it is of no consequence to these descendants of the original immigrants to the Antipodes island of Gondwana! They just happen to be the first conquerors of this land. The direct descendants have now had their blood lines weakened to a minute percentage of indigenous blood and are the only ones worried about the so called invasion.
 
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Australia Day, celebrated on January 26th, commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney in 1788 and the subsequent establishment of the British colony of New South Wales. While the date was initially a New South Wales-centric celebration, it evolved into a national holiday after Federation in 1901, with all states and territories officially observing it on January 26th starting in 1994.

Here's a more detailed look:
  • Early Observances:
    January 26th, initially called "First Landing Day" or "Foundation Day," was marked by informal gatherings and dinners in Sydney.

  • Formalization in NSW:
    In 1818, Governor Lachlan Macquarie officially declared January 26th a public holiday in New South Wales to celebrate the colony's 30th anniversary.

  • Growth as a National Day:
    While other colonies had their own foundation days, the idea of a unified national day gained traction, particularly around the time of Federation in 1901.

  • Adoption as Australia Day:
    In 1938, the 150th anniversary was celebrated nationally and became a public holiday, although it wasn't yet observed on the same date across all states.

  • National Holiday:
    It wasn't until 1994 that January 26th became a nationally recognized public holiday across all states and territories.

  • Ongoing Debate:
    Despite its formal establishment as Australia Day, the date remains a point of contention due to its association with the dispossession of Indigenous Australians and the beginning of colonization.


Invasion Day

A large part of the population recognises it as Australia Day, but for many Indigenous people and their Allies, it's more aptly acknowledged as Invasion Day or Survival Day. To many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, there is little to celebrate on Australia Day.20 Jan 2024
 
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.
A good idea, get rid of all these paid days off. Then the monies saved can go to making pensioners lives a little easier and lets not forget hospitals?
 
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I didn’t know most of that….. but I agree with you…
That's half the problem. The media never seems to point out the actual history of Australia Day. Back when Australia celebrated 200 years, if I remember correctly, the celebrations in Sydney included Captain Cook's landing - which was never on that date. Since then people have tended to associate Australia Day and Cook's landing as being on the same day - and it never was.
 
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I'm getting totally fed up with people whining about the price of things - $2.50 for iced tea, $3.50 for coffee, $4 for a slice of cake, $5 to park the car. Any more complaining and I'm going to stop inviting people over.
 
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That's half the problem. The media never seems to point out the actual history of Australia Day. Back when Australia celebrated 200 years, if I remember correctly, the celebrations in Sydney included Captain Cook's landing - which was never on that date. Since then people have tended to associate Australia Day and Cook's landing as being on the same day - and it never was.
I remember the bicentenary and how it was celebrated…..I really enjoy my history and just took the date at face value…Thank you for clarifying it Witty:
 

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