Mayor rattles chain on date

MELBOURNE’S Lord Mayor has branded as “ridiculous” a push by some councils to have the Federal Government change the date of Australia Day.

In a narrow vote at the annual National General Assembly of the Australian Local Government Association, delegates approved a motion for councils to consider ways they could lobby the Government to switch the date from January 26.

While more than 500 councils were represented at the meeting, those who voted on the motion were fairly evenly split, with the result coming in at 64 in favour and 62 opposed.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says Australia Day should remain as January 26, despite it being a date that many indigenous people regard as “Invasion Day” as it marks the arrival of the first fleet from England in 1788.