Push for Australia Day backflip in one big city

An Adelaide council will debate whether to reverse its decision and move its Australia Day ceremonies back to January 26.

Unley Council will on Monday vote on a motion to move its citizenship and Citizen of the Year award ceremonies, after a majority of people polled supported backflipping on the council’s earlier decision to move the celebrations to January 25.

Earlier this year, the council asked residents for feedback on the issue, posting a poll on its website.

During the consultation period, 842 residents responded, with 60 per cent supporting a return to January 26.

Councillor Rebekah Rogers moved a motion to vote on the poll’s findings, with the council to vote on the proposal on Monday.

“We are, as a local government, responsible as a council to our own community in Unley.” Mayor Michael Hewitson told Nine News.

“We’ve got a whole range of opinions on council, just as there is across the community as a whole”

In 2022, the Albanese government made changes to the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code, allowing councils to hold its Australia Day ceremonies either on January 26 or within three days before and after.

This year, the City of Unley moved its ceremonies to January 25.