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The City of Melbourne has ended its campaign to change Australia Day from January 26 after councillors voted to continue recognizing the date as it is currently celebrated. The decision followed an hour-long debate where councillor Philip Le Liu proposed a motion to support community participation and civic pride on January 26, despite some like Greens councillor Olivia Ball opposing the move, citing that many residents want the date changed due to its significance as Invasion Day for Aboriginal people. The council will still host citizenship ceremonies and cultural events but will not lobby for a change in the national holiday's date, leaving such decisions to the federal government.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The City of Melbourne has voted to stop campaigning for changing the date of Australia Day from January 26. In a council meeting on Tuesday, councillors debated and decided that the city will no longer advocate for the federal government to alter the national holiday's date, despite nearly 60% of surveyed residents supporting a change. Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece voted in favor of recognizing January 26 as Australia Day but personally believes the date should be changed due to its significance as "Invasion Day" for Aboriginal Australians. The council will now focus on local events like the citizenship ceremony and community barbecues, while the potential return of the Australia Day parade is being considered.
Written for “Melbourne Australia Day Decision” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
The City of Melbourne has abandoned its campaign to 'Change the Date' of Australia Day after a council vote.
asserted
City → abandon → vote
The campaign launched in 2022 saw the council commit to lobbying the federal government to move the date, acknowledging that January 26 is a day of mourning and pain for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
asserted
January → launch → people
The campaign was also backed by a survey of Melbourne residents, which found almost 60 per cent supported changing the date.
asserted
cent → back → date
But, after an hour-long debate on Tuesday, councillors voted to recognise January 26 as Australia Day.
asserted
councillors → vote → Day
Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said he personally believed the date should be changed but supported abandoning the campaign.
asserted
date → say → campaign
'I understand that for Aboriginal Australians, the 26th of January is seen as Invasion Day and it's a day of heartache,' he told ABC Melbourne.
asserted
he → understand → heartache
'But that decision is not made in the town hall chamber...
asserted
decision → make → chamber
It's a decision that's made in the Australian Parliament.'
asserted
that → make → Parliament
Reece confirmed the council will continue to hold a citizenship ceremony on that day, as well as hosting community barbecues and cultural events.
asserted
council → confirm → barbecues
Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece (pictured) has said any decision to change the date of Australia Day would be left to the federal government
The City of Melbourne will recognise January 26 as Australia's national day, with the Australia Day parade potentially returning for the first time since before the Covid pandemic
The successful motion was brought forward by Councillor Philip Le Liu (pictured)
Reece also confirmed the Share the Spirit Festival, which celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, will continue alongside the Day of Mourning dawn service at Camp Sovereignty in the Domain Gardens.
asserted
which → picture → Gardens
He added that the council will investigate whether its budget can accommodate other multicultural celebrations.
asserted
budget → add → celebrations
This would include an Australia Day parade that has not been held since before the Covid-19 pandemic, complementing the annual citizenship ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall.
asserted
that → include → Hall
The reversal of the campaign was driven by a motion from independent councillor Philip Le Liu, which aimed to foster 'community participation, civic pride and social connection'.
asserted
which → drive → participation
'Australia Day presents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements, contributions and aspirations of Australians, particularly new citizens who formally join the Australian community through citizenship ceremonies held on the day,' the motion stated.
asserted
motion → present → day
It added that any future Australia Day programming should promote 'inclusion, multiculturalism and community connection, while remaining respectful of First Nations peoples and recognising the significance that 26 January holds for many Australians'.
asserted
January → add → Australians
However, not all members of the council supported the decision, with Greens councillor Olivia Ball describing it as 'deeply disappointing'.
asserted
Ball → support → it
'First Nations people have been clear, and council's own consultation showed a clear majority of residents and businesses want the date changed,' she said.
'We should be listening to them, not walking away from them.'
Councillor Gladys Liu voted to end the council's campaign to change the date.
asserted
Liu → show → date
But she said individual councillors would still be free to lobby for a change, even though it would no longer be the official position of the City of Melbourne.
asserted
it → say → Melbourne
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