Recently we have seen in the news that Yarra City Council and this week Darebin City Council have taken an ethical stance to initiate a nationwide conversation and recognise the marginalisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community (ATSIC) on a day that celebrates our multi-cultural identity. From 2018 onwards, both councils have chosen not to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26, nor will they refer to it as Australia Day.

A report was commissioned by Yarra Council to gauge the attitudes of the local Aboriginal and Torres ATSIC members to January 26, provide some historical context for these attitudes and present recommendations on how the council might approach January 26 from 2018 onwards. In the ATSIC member consultations the majority of respondents described January 26 as a painful and alienating day.

The debate over Australia Day continues. Credit:Paul Jeffers

There were 13 recommendations suggested in this report, but the government chose to publicly respond to only one of these. Why was this – was it because it was easier to paint a negative picture of the change than if all 13 were considered?

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community are very proud Australians, who would very much like to be able to celebrate a day of national pride, but how can we be expected to celebrate on a date that to us symbolises a loss of country and culture. ATSIC members collectively refer to January 26 as Invasion Day or Survival Day, but each year the feelings of the first people are ignored.