Yarra City Council won’t acknowledge Australia Day, but will take the public holiday

Neil Mitchell has questioned the Mayor of Yarra City over the council’s refusal to recognise Australia Day.

The city of Yarra voted last night to no longer acknowledge January 26 as Australia Day and will stop holding citizenship ceremonies and community awards on the date.

“This is creating division where we don’t need it,” Neil said.

“This isn’t their role, it’s not why they’re elected, it’s not what they’re qualified to do, it’s not what they’re entitled to do.”

Cr Amanda Stone told Neil despite not recognising the day, council will still be taking the public holiday off.

“It’s still a public holiday nationally,” she said.

“You don’t approve of it but you’ll have the public holiday off?” Neil asked.

“It’s a public holiday for something you don’t approve of.”

Neil also informed Cr Stone that according to the 2016 Census, only 382 people within the city of Yarra are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait islander descent, just .4 percent of Yarra’s population.

“It’s an important .4 percent,” Cr Stone said.

Click PLAY above to hear the full interview