CITY CANDIDATES BACK AUS DAY CHANGE:
THE state leader of Australia Day celebrations has said he is open to the idea of shifting the national holiday from January 26.
Australia Day Council (Victoria) president Norman Kennedy yesterday said he was “agnostic” about which date it should be held.
“There is scope for the day to move,” he told The Pulse radio yesterday.
“It should be a day that the whole nation can celebrate.”
Mr Kennedy is one of 11 candidates standing for the Kardinia ward at this month’s Geelong council elections.
A former mayor of Glen Eira, Mr Kennedy has moved to Geelong to live and commutes to Melbourne for his job as a manager in the public service.
Fellow Kardinia ward challenger Lois Newman told the election forum she would be lobbying for the date of Australia Day to change.
“The main issue for me is that there is a huge section of our indigenous community that is hurting by celebrating that day on Invasion Day,” the Greens candidate said.
Ms Newman said if elected she would consult widely with Geelong residents before determining the council’s office stance.
However, other candidates, such as Darren Hauenstein and Pat Murnane, said Australia Day was best decided on a national level.
Former councillor Ron Nelson has revealed in his campaign material that he is against shifting Australia Day from January 26.
“I won’t support any change to our national celebration,” he wrote.