{
  "id": 10799248,
  "title": "City of Melbourne to stop campaigning to change the date of Australia Day",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/city-of-melbourne-to-stop-campaigning-to-change-the-date-of-australia",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T22:35:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-30/city-of-melbourne-to-halt-australia-day-change-the-date-campaign/107209916"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The City of Melbourne has decided to halt its efforts to alter the date of Australia Day. In 2022, the council had taken a stance, urging the federal government to relocate the national day from January 26. The council intends to reevaluate the reintroduction of the Australia Day parade, which was formerly organized by the state government. Recently, councillors voted to cease advocating for the federal government to shift Australia Day to a different date. In 2022, councillors voted to push the federal government to modify the date of Australia Day after a resident poll indicated nearly 60% supported the change. After an hour of deliberation, the council's meeting last night approved a stance recognizing January 26 as Australia's national day while acknowledging that any decision to modify the date rests with the federal, not local, government. Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece voted to acknowledge January 26 as Australia Day but personally believed the date should be altered. He recognized the pain experienced by Aboriginal Australians on this day, stating that Australia should reconsider the date and identify a day that unites all citizens. However, he affirmed that this decision would not be made within the council but rather by the Australian parliament. Cr Reece emphasized that the council would maintain its citizenship ceremony on January 26 and host community barbecues and cultural events on the same day, including the Share the Spirit Festival, which celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, as well as the Day of Mourning dawn service at Camp Sovereignty in Domain Gardens. Councillor Gladys Liu also supported the council's decision to stop campaigning for a date change. She focused on how to celebrate and feel proud to be Australian, particularly during a ceremony welcoming new citizens. Liu acknowledged the diverse viewpoints regarding January 26's significance to various community segments, including First Nations people. The council aims to ensure those who mourn can do so while also enabling those who wish to celebrate Australia Day. Individual councillors could still lobby for a date change, but it would no longer be the official City of Melbourne position.",
  "summary": "The council has voted to overturn a 2022 decision to advocate for the federal government to move Australia Day from January 26.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}