Byron in Aus Day backflip

BYRON Shire Council has abandoned plans to move Australia Day events after Scott Morrison threatened to stop it hosting citizenship ceremonies.

Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson has written to the Federal Government telling it his council would drop plans to shift Australia Day events despite declaring January 26 was “the day the cultural decimation and denigration of the First Australians began”.

After the Green-controlled council last month announced it would change Australia Day events, the Prime Minister attacked the plan as “indulgent” and “self-loathing”.

The Federal Government threatened to ban councils – including Byron Shire, and Yarra and Darebin in Melbourne – from hosting citizenship ceremonies if they ditched Australia Day events. Mr Morrison last night welcomed the “common sense” backdown by Byron Shire Council and said it ensured the “integrity” of Australia Day.

“Australia Day must unite us. It’s a day to share all our stories and journeys – whether over thousands of years or more recently,” he said. “It’s a day where we must work together to come together.”

Mr Morrison put other councils on notice that he would take the same tough approach if they changed Australia Day ceremonies.

“Our Government, that I lead, will always act to protect the integrity of our national day,” he said.

Cr Richardson previously said he wanted to shift Australia Day events to recognise concerns among some indigenous people.

Mr Richardson did not return calls yesterday.