City Changes Date Of Australia Day

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Australia Day next year will come two days late for one West Australian council.

The City of Fremantle, south of Perth, has decided to move its traditional January 26 events to January 28 because of cultural sensitivities.

"We thought it was time to acknowledge it wasn't a day of celebration for everybody and it was an opportunity for us to come up with a different format on a different day that could be truly inclusive," Mayor Brad Pettitt told The West Australian newspaper on Friday.

Mr Pettitt said the council said it had heard "loud and clear" from local Aboriginal elders that it wasn't a day to celebrate.

But former West Australian of the Year Robert Isaacs told the paper he hadn't heard of any complaints from his Aboriginal community.

"It's not in line with community attitudes," he said.

"I strongly condemn them for this whole thing ... Australia Day is Australia Day."

Australia Day marks the arrival of the First Fleet of ships from Britain in NSW on January 26, 1788.

-AAP

11 December 2016

Article by:

Perth National News




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