Australia Day fears growing

CONCERNS have been raised that Melbourne City Council may ditch its support for Australia Day amid a historic declaration that Aboriginal traditional owners never “ceded sovereignty” to white settlers.

The declaration comes as the council seeks to pay $127,000 a year for a social inclusion manager to enhance Aboriginal employment and social outcomes.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp and council chief executive Justin Hanney will sign the “declaration of recognition and commitment” on behalf of the municipality’s residents after a council meeting backed the move this week.

But councillor Roshena Campbell, who was elected on Team Capp, dissented from the motion, saying she was deeply concerned about the implications for council policy.

“If it’s the case that it would prevent us from celebrating Australia Day ... those are not decisions that I would support,” she told the meeting.

Ms Campbell said she was also worried about the council making statements such as “sovereignty has never been ceded”, and doing it on behalf of residents.

The council usually supports Australia Day events.