Perth Voice Interactive

THE City of Bayswater has become the latest council moved to ditch its annual Australia Day citizenship ceremony.

During an hour-long debate last Wednesday, Bayswater councillors discussed the result of consultation with its Reconciliation Advisory Committee and a survey of 431 Bayswater residents conducted over June and July 2023. 

Councillor Sally Palmer said the advisory committee’s advice to council was to move the ceremony and associated events to three days after January 26.

The RAC also wanted more Aboriginal culture such as traditional food and a welcome to country at the ceremony, saying it would be a “positive experience for new citizens and an integrated approach”. 

“Having it three days after… it’s not a devastation,” Cr Palmer said, encouraging extra weight to be given to the RAC’s advice.

The community survey highlighted the division in the wider Australian community about celebrating Australia Day; 47 per cent voted for Baysater to “retain the status quo” and 44 per cent wanted the ceremony moved. Another 9 per cent indicated they would be satisfied with either option.

Councillor Steven Ostaszewskyj said he wouldn’t be supporting a date change.

“I acknowledge the hurt that is out in the community in regard to the choice of Australia Day… but I also do acknowledge that many people from all over the world want to have their citizenship ceremony on Australia Day.”

Cr Ostaszewskyj said there were other citizenship ceremonies throughout the year that people could choose if they didn’t like Australia Day.

Dismantled

More than 80 councils have voted to separate their Australia Day citizenship ceremony from January 26, including the City of Fremantle. 

That came after the Albanese government dismantled former prime minister Scott Morrison’s 2019 amendment to the ‘Australian Citizenships Ceremonies Code’ which legally required councils to hold a ceremony on January 26, with the threat of losing that power if they disobeyed.

Staff had recommended retaining January 26 for the ceremony and celebration, saying the survey results didn’t justify a move.

Mayor Filomena Piffaretti said this was also her view, but when councillors voted it down, she suggested a move to any time in the three days after January 26.

Deputy mayor Elli Petersen-Pik suggested a six-day window either side of January 26, but the RAC had concerns the time leading up to Australia Day was also distressing for First Nations people. He was the only supporter of this option, and despite voting against a change herself, the mayor’s option was voted in 6 – 4.

by OLIVIA MINTY