Whittlesea mayor Aidan McLindon is pushing for a minute’s silence to be observed at 11.59am on Australia Day to acknowledge the “atrocities” of the past.
Under Cr McLindon’s proposal, a bell would then ring at noon, signalling the start of celebrations.
He plans to write to Premier Jacinta Allan and state opposition leader Brad Battin, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and federal opposition leader Peter Dutton to encourage them to adopt his proposal.
But first he will need to overcome a hurdle close to home – Whittlesea council pulled the pin on its Australia Day celebrations in December 2020.
The council’s then-administrators decided the city would not go ahead with its Australia Day celebrations in 2021, and the council hasn’t held official events on the day since.
At the time, council’s chief executive Craig Lloyd said there was a need for the council to review its events on January 26 “out of respect to our whole community”, adding that “current celebrations on Australia Day don’t include all Australians”.
Prior to 2021, council held a community event on Australia Day which included music, entertainment, food and fireworks. It also held a citizenship ceremony and announced the winners of the Whittlesea Australia Day awards on that day.
This year, council will host a citizenship ceremony on January 24, while its community award winners will be announced in March.
Cr McLindon said he would put a notice motion to the council calling for Australia Day festivities to be restored and for a citizenship ceremony to be held on January 26.
“To get rid of it when the city is so clearly in favour [of Australia Day] is questionable,” he said.
Cr McLindon said it was his belief that observing a minute’s silence on January 26 would help to unite the community.
“Yes, there were atrocities that happened [in the past], nobody can deny that. To me, this is a very reasonable proposal to ensure we are all united as a community going froward,” he said.
“I am absolutely sick of our indigenous brothers and sisters being exploited to bring division in our communities.”
Mr Lloyd said council’s position on Australia Day remained unchanged.
” The views expressed by [Cr] McLindon, this week regarding a minute’s silence reflect his personal perspective and do not represent the official position of council,” he said.
“At this time, there are no plans or proposals before council to alter its approach to Australia Day.”
