A group of Aboriginal organisations have passed a vote of no confidence in the City of Geelong after it reversed a decision to no longer hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26.
In 2023, the City of Geelong council supported a recommendation to change the way the city celebrated January 26 after engagement with First Nations Peoples and the community. However, this was overturned late last year.
The First Peoples United Together Djilang, a collection of First Nations organisations from Wadawurrung Country, including the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, said they held their inaugural meeting last week, passing a motion of no confidence in the City of Greater Geelong Mayor and Councillors.
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"This action was in response to the decision made on December 10, 2024, which went against the unanimous resolutions of May 23, 2023, as outlined in the City's community engagement report, A Conversation About January 26: Full Engagement Report," a statement read.
"The First Peoples United Together Djilang will advocate with and for our local community to change the date.
"January 26 is not a day of celebration for First Nations Peoples, but one of mourning, survival, and remembrance. Changing the date is a powerful step towards understanding, healing and respect, so we can all celebrate this great country, together."
They called on people to sign the petition, 'not a date to celebrate,' launched by Naarm-based fashion label Clothing the Gaps, as well as writing to their local MP.
A number of councils have reversed their decision to hold ceremonies on an alternative date to January 26, after the federal Labor government allowed for a three-day window either side of the date to hold events.
Whilst a number have maintained, or adopted the change, several in Victoria have reversed their decision.
The Greater Shepparton City Council, on Yorta Yorta County in Victoria's northeast, reversed their decision after only 12 months.
The "devastating motion" was criticised by First Nations leaders in the city, who held a day of mourning march on January 26 this year.
The federal opposition has been critical of councils wanting to hold ceremonies on different dates, having promised to legislate for them to only be held on January 26 should it win the federal election later this year.
It comes as part of a bigger battle around the changing of the date, which is widely seen amongst First Nations communities as a day not to be celebrated.
Large rallies across the country this year came in contrast to a poll which revealed more people are content with the date staying the same than in previous years.
Federal Labor have committed to keeping the date - despite accusations by the Coalition that they are wanting it changed.
